I don’t normally write for our newsletter but given the focus on registration of late, I thought you might be interested to hear how things are going from a registration perspective since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Since March 1 we have added 1,336 nurses and midwives to our register, 901 of those are people who are coming back to the register and 435 are new registrations. Of the new registrations 81 are Irish, these are generally older graduates coming back to Ireland from abroad. 42 are from Europe with 34 of those coming from the UK. Of the 312 overseas candidates that we have added, the largest cohort are from India (215) and the Philippines (71). The register now stands at 78,328.
As requests for restoration to the register are now tapering off we will move some of the team members who were processing restorations to applications from EU and overseas nurses/midwives. The team will continue to adapt to support key requirements in our effort to register all eligible nurses and midwives.
While we continue to receive overseas post and couriered applications, the level is much lower. We will continue to complete files for those who pass aptitude tests and adaptation periods and process letters of good standing. Decision letters will also continue to go out although in some cases we are aware that the recipients may be unable get to Ireland due to the pandemic.
At present, we are processing the applications from those who arrived here before the stricter restrictions were put in place. Following their 14-day isolation on arrival, 64 people sat an aptitude test last weekend. We processed the 57 that passed this week and expect them to be on the register ready for work next week.
We made a further announcement this week on the outcome of a review that we conducted in 2019 to amend language requirements. We had noted from research that reducing the writing score by 0.5 (IELTS) would not affect practice and will also enable up to 100 nurses and midwives to join the register who have been striving to achieve the standard in writing for some time. Further information on this announcement is provided below.
Our offices are operating as normal but are closed to the public to protect our team, across all functions, who continue to work long hours. Medically vulnerable staff are supporting the same standards, but from home. We will do everything we can to support the nursing and midwifery community in the weeks to come.
While I realise that many of you will be working hard over this bank holiday weekend I wanted to take this opportunity to extend best wishes from all the team here at NMBI.
We hope you stay safe and get some time to recharge.
Colm