Filipino nurses in the UK

What island nation has more than 6,000 islands, and about 67 million people? Unlike the Philippines, the United Kingdom is not as temperate. But it is home to over 22,000 Filipino nurses (DM Smith et al 2021).

When I applied for my UK visa, I also paid a fee to the UK National Health System or NHS, which would cover certain visits to UK hospitals or clinics. I assume that, just as it was in the US after my mom’s stroke, I too might meet a Filipino or Indian nurse if or when I do get sick.

Unfortunately, despite being championed as frontliners, Filipino nurses both in the Philippines and abroad have suffered greatly during the pandemic. 22% of NHS staff deaths were Filipino (Filipino UK Nurses Association 2020).

And to this day, nurses in the Philippines are underpaid, overworked, and have yet to receive promised compensation for their work during the pandemic (R Alibudbud 2022).

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