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3 December 2003

Overseas nurses meet in Glasgow

Glasgow's overseas nurses are being invited to attend a meeting organised by Scotland's largest public sector union, UNISON at Unison House 14 West Campbell Street in Glasgow at 7 30pm.

A record number of overseas nurses have been arriving in the UK since 2001 and there are currently over 3721 nurses working in the UK who trained outside the EU and who are now working in Britain.

The new recruits mainly come from the Philippines, South Africa, India, Zimbabwe, Australia and New Zealand and with a Government commitment to increase the number of nurses to 85,000, many more are likely to be recruited in the next year.

UNISON's Scottish Overseas Nurses Network was started in December last year to allow nurses working in the Glasgow area to get-together to discuss issues which directly affect them such as work permits and recruitment. It also allows them the opportunity to meet up and network with one another. Since its inception, the Network has supported nurses who have been sacked or been treated unfairly and secured them some of them jobs in the NHS.

UNISONScotland is also hoping to participate in the Public Services International Campaign: Women and International Migration in the Health Sector which is currently examining world-wide trends of nurses and other health service workers moving away from their own countries to fill gaps in staffing in the host countries.

Bridget Hunter, UNISONScotland's Lead Nursing Officer said: "UNISONScotland is proud of the Overseas Nurses Network which provides a much needed service to those who for various reasons are unable to take action on their own behalf. The treatment some overseas Nurses are subjected to is appalling and must be tackled so that nurses who come here from overseas can be assured that they will be treated properly."

The speakers at the meeting include Joe Nicols, a professional advisor on the Standards and Registration Directorate Nursing and Midwifery Council, Chris Oswald, Commission for Race Equality, Peter Hunter, legal officer, UNISON Scotland and Ima Jackson, the project co-ordinator for Glasgow Overseas Professionals into Practice. Everyone is welcome and food and drink will be provided.

For Further Information Please Contact: Bridget Hunter (Lead Officer for Nursing) 0845 355 0845 (w) 07986 960040 (m) Chris Bartter (Communications Officer) 0845 355 0845(w) 0771 558 3729(m)

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