For many years foreign nurses have made a valuable contribution to the health service, but now many are threatened by changes in immigration and work permit rules. Susan D’Cruze reports

Before October 1994, the right of a newly qualified foreign nurse to take up employment in the UK was granted under the immigration rules, provided the Department of Employment (DoE) was prepared to approve a work permit. This situation had existed for many years, affording nursing a unique position in regard to both work permit procedures (administered by the DoE) and the immigration rules (administered by the Home Office).