[originaltext] The Royal College of Nursing has warned that too many UK nurses

The Royal College of Nursing has warned that too many UK nurses are being lured to work in Australia. Last year almost 5,000 nurses formally signaled an intention to find work in Australian hospitals.Howard Carton The RCN’s head of policy conceded nurses were receiving attractive offers, but said the UK still needed the nurses it was training. He said: "The Australians have stepped up their recruitment activity on the basis of what they believe is unemployment and downsizing in the UK." The Australian recruitment agencies that I’ve spoken to since I’ve been here are making very attractive offers."It’s not just the starting salaries. The packages include air travel for nurses’ families as well—relocation expenses, temporary accommodation and the promise that they’ll support an application for permanent residency." A couple of employers even offer a "meet and greet" service at the airport with chauffeur-driven limousines, so the nurses are made to feel welcome as soon as their feet touch the ground."We still believe there are nursing shortages in the UK both in the NHS and the private sector."