A tightening of immigration regulations has reduced the number of overseas nurses taking up healthcare positions in the UK. In 2005, the Department of Health vetoed the active recruitment of trained nurses from nations receiving British aid.
The UK Border Agency also brought in stricter requirements for nursing professionals migrating to the UK at the same time. Prior to 2005, foreign nurses coming to the UK averaged 10,000 annually whereas figures released recently showed the number had dropped to 2,000 by the end of 2010.
http://www.emigrate.co.uk/news/2213342.html