On Call: Once more around the doom loop (HSJ, 17 September 2026)

Summary

A report commissioned by the Royal College of Nursing warns that England is at risk of repeating a damaging cycle of nursing workforce shortages because of poor long-term planning, stagnant domestic training numbers and a sharp fall in international recruitment. While NHS nurse numbers grew strongly between 2015 and 2025, much of that increase was driven by overseas recruitment, which has now dropped significantly, raising concerns about future staffing levels. Nick Kituno argues that achieving the government's ambition to reduce reliance on international recruits will require sustained investment in nurse education, improved retention, better career progression and a realistic approach to workforce supply.