By Ruth O’Kelly Lynch

The Bermuda Hospitals Board did not intend to woo nurses let go by the cash-strapped British National Health Service, but there is concern in the UK that enticing advertisements will do just that.

A report was published last week on a Scottish online paper that a tempting advert placed in UK papers read: “Join our team. Come to paradise and join the Bermuda Hospitals Board”. The report said the advert had been placed in a number of UK newspapers. The advert said the BHB needs nurses for the intensive care units, paediatrics and maternity wards as well as the emergency departments and operating wards.

The Scotsman news group reported that over 11,500 nurses have been let go recently by the NHS and pressure groups warn there could be more job cuts to come. Student nurses are also facing a lack of opportunities with 5,000 let go in the Midlands after the hospitals stopped recruitment drives in an effort to save approximately £85 million.
Scott Pearman, director of Human Resources for the BHB, said the ads were not placed in response to the nursing redundancies. However, a Royal College of Nursing spokesman told The Scotsman that the ads would have a negative impact on UK health services in the coming decade.

“If nurses are unable to find work in this country, they are going to consider working abroad and Bermuda sounds highly attractive,” she said. “British-trained nurses are highly regarded. They are second to none.
“If the Government wants to continue to improve patient services we simply cannot afford to lose highly skilled and much-needed nursing staff.

“There is a real risk that once they leave, they will not return to Britain. There could be a real nursing shortage in this country over the next decade.” The nurses are being offered what the Scottish newspaper deems a “generous package” with a relocation allowance, full pension, 18 days paid holiday and on-site training.

Mr. Pearman said the BHB is trying to attract nurses and other health care professionals worldwide in response to a global shortage of health care workers.