Unions and nursing providers accused the government of putting services at risk after confirming plans to close visa routes for overseas nursing staff.

The long-awaited immigration white paper will be published on Monday, which includes measures to ban new recruitment in nursing roles from abroad, as part of a broader effort to reduce legal immigration and prioritize British workers.

The decision sparked anger against industry leaders and unions, who say the industry has extended to Breaking Point and remains heavily dependent on international employees to keep the service running.

Professor Martin Green, CEO of the British Nursing Staff, said the government “kicks us when we are already disappointed”.

“For years, the industry has been supporting itself with reduced resources, rising costs and increasing vacancies,” he said.

"International recruitment is not a silver bullet, but it is a lifeline. Take it away now, without any warning, without funds, without other options, not only short-sighted, but cruel."

Unison, the largest union in the UK, representing health and nursing staff, also criticized the decision and called for urgent clarification on what the changes mean for those who already work in the UK.

Unified Secretary-General Christina McAnea said: “Without thousands of workers coming to the UK from overseas, the NHS and nursing sectors will collapse a long time ago.

"Immigrant health and caregivers are now anxious about what is happening to them. The government must assure these overseas workers that they will be allowed to stay and continue the essential work."

She urged ministers to stop describing nursing work as “low skills” and said the government must “continue to implement its fair compensation agreement.”

In 2023, more than 58,000 overseas care workers came to the UK with skilled workers’ visas, half of all new entrants to social care workers.

Labor has defended the policy as part of a broader reset of the immigration system, aiming to reduce dependence on overseas labour and invest in domestic labour.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the policy in a BBC interview with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday. She believes employers should be recruited from the UK’s existing nursing staff pool, including those who arrive on a visa but have never held a role.

"They can also expand their existing visas. They can also recruit from people who already have other visas here," she said. "But we do think it's time to end the nursing staff recruitment."