File Photo of NHS Nurses in the UK
Some 700 Nigerian nurses in the United Kingdom are currently under investigation for alleged industrial-scale qualification fraud resulting from the computer-based tests done in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The British Broadcast Network in a report on Monday, said some of the nurses could be in the National Health Scheme, NHS, of the UK.
The report said, “Over 700 healthcare workers from Nigeria are under scrutiny following a qualification fraud scandal.”
The report said 48 nurses and midwives are accused of paying proxies to sit computer-based exams that are required for them to practise nursing in the UK.
It said the Nursery and Midwifery Council, NMC, uncovered widespread fraud at a test centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, named Unic Technology Test Centre.
It was gathered that concerns about the centre surfaced after a “suspiciously quick completion time” was flagged by testing agency, Pearse VUE.
“As a result, all test results from the centre were deemed invalid.”
The report further revealed that many of the affected individuals are working in the NHS as healthcare assistants while waiting for NMC registration.”
It said although the NMC lacks the authority to suspend those from the test centre, it instructed them to retake the exams.
“So far, of 80 tested applicants most have been rejected due to concerns over competence, honesty and trustworthiness,” BBN said.
Meanwhile, it revealed that hearings have been set for November to determine if those affected should be removed from the NMC register entirely.
The scandal, according to the findings, has sparked concerns about patients’s safety and highlighted NHS dependency on international staff to fill workforce gaps in the UK.
It was gathered that foreigners constituted over 33% of nurses in England. The foreigners are mostly nationals of Indians, Philipinos and Nigerians making up the largest group.
There are now growing concerns that the NHS should not rely on foreigners for its healthcare recruitment.
