THE island is to rethink recruiting nurses from Asia. As local nursing official Sandra James made national headlines by likening the practice to people-trafficking, Health minister Peter Roffey said that this recruitment would stop until a review was completed.

He said that the department had no short-term plans for new Asian staff – the island has used the Philippines and India in particular – but he could not rule it out in the longer term.

‘The Health and Social Services Department will be reviewing its policy before any future third-country recruitment,’ said Deputy Roffey.

Mrs James spoke out at the national conference of the Royal College of Nursing in Harrogate.

She told of trips to the Philippines.

‘We were taking young women with babies and children and separating them from their families.

‘I found myself asking what I was doing and whether it was any different from those who do people-trafficking. I had a crisis of conscience over it.’

Deputy Roffey had no problem with a local nurse speaking out.

He said the island was probably quite proud to have such a high-profile delegate at a national conference.

The department would be willing to discuss Mrs James’ concerns with her and the RCN.

‘My personal view is that her reference to people-trafficking is an enormous exaggeration,’ said the minister.

‘That is an expression normally used when people are smuggled illegally, which means they have no rights at all.’

Deputy Roffey said that the situation for local nurses was totally different.

‘They are recruited with full immigration rights, paid accordingly and treated properly.

‘However, there are moral issues about whether or not we are denuding their home countries of skills that they need,’ he acknowledged.

Guernsey has always followed the UK Government’s Code of Conduct to try to avoid that, but the code has been questioned in some quarters.

‘That is why we are going to look at our policy again,’ said Deputy Roffey.

He said that guest-worker nurses had made an enormous contribution. They were allowed to stay in the island only for four years.

‘When the first cohort had to return home last year, everybody was devastated to say goodbye to them because they had been so outstanding.

‘Although I understand Sandra’s concerns, I hope they won’t be sensitive about comments about people-trafficking and will realise it’s the policy being questioned and not them as individuals.’

Deputy Roffey said that the department often struggled to recruit because of international nursing shortages, particularly in areas like mental health.

‘It’s a constant effort to keep the positions filled,’ he said.

A new report commissioned by the RCN showed that nearly half the new nurses in the UK came from abroad.

The RCN has urged the Government to step up investment in UK nurses.

The Health and Social Services Department was yesterday unable to provide nursing staffing statistics.