Northern Ireland

Pat Cullen warns care services will ‘collapse’ as international nurses consider leaving north amid racist attacks

‘Heartbroken to hear our brilliant internationally educated nursing colleagues are leaving here’ - Pat Cullen MP

RCN general secretary Pat Cullen on the picket line (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)
Former RCN general secretary Pat Cullen has highlighted her concerns for the health servoce should internationally educated nurses leave the north following racist violence. (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)
By Catherine McGinty

The former general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, Pat Cullen MP, has condemned the continuing “criminal, violent and racist attacks on all minority communities” in the north.

The newly elected Sinn Féin MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, highlighted her concerns regarding the impact the ongoing violence was having on her “internationally educated colleagues”.

In the wake of the attacks, it has been widely reported international healthcare professionals are considering leaving the north when their contracts expire, because they are feeling unsafe.

Referring to the racist violence which has taken place since Saturday, Ms Cullen said: “As a nurse I’m heartbroken to hear our brilliant internationally educated colleagues are leaving here.

“Every nurse deserves unconditional safety. Critical care services will collapse without our international nursing and healthcare staff.

These criminal violent and racist atacks on all minority communities must stop.”