Overseas NHS Workers Day was introduced in 2021 to recognise the extraordinary contribution of international medical graduates to the NHS before, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. The NHS has benefitted from international clinicians since it was formed in 1948, and recent figures show that one in five staff in the NHS are of a nationality other than British, and represent over 200 different nationalities.
The NHS simply could not provide care for the 67 million people in the UK without its international staff- clinical, clerical, and administrative- and in celebration of them, Overseas NHS Workers Day was created in 2021.
Overseas Workers in the NHS
Since its inception in 1948, the NHS has benefitted from the massive contributions of overseas workers- and 1 in 5 joiners in 2021 were not UK nationals, and came from 162 nations. International doctors have massively contributed to the progression of healthcare in the UK since long before the NHS was formed – especially during the heightened pressures the service faced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
We are celebrating all of the 4,000 clinicians we have placed in the service since 2013 – and all international clinicians currently working in the NHS, like Dr Sudarshan. Hear more about his relocation here.
Overseas workers and international collaboration are key in pushing knowledge and care globally. This was made clear by the Covid-19 pandemic that saw an extraordinary pace of healthcare innovation, that was only made possible by international collaboration. Overseas Workers Day celebrates the contribution of overseas workers in the NHS- but it is important to recognise the contributions overseas workers have made to the UK, and globally, since before the NHS was formed.
How to celebrate Overseas NHS Workers Day
Taking some time to thank an overseas worker is the best way to celebrate- though wearing green and blue, the colours of the globe, is also encouraged! Some organisations are also holding one minute of silence during the day to honour the NHS workers who lost their lives in the pandemic.
Are you looking to relocate to the UK to work in the NHS?
At Remedium, we know how difficult relocating to the UK can be for international doctors, which is why we are dedicated to making the transition as simple as possible. We provide 24/7 end-to-end support for our doctors with our Red Carpet platform, which has made relocating to the UK much easier for hundreds of international doctors, as well as our dedicated onboarding team.
If you are interested in making the move to the UK to work in the NHS, register your details here and one of our relocation experts will be in touch.