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Daily Mail criticised for 'stereotyping' Filipino nurses after Chua murder case Daily Mail criticised for 'stereotyping' Filipino nurses after Chua murder case
(35 minutes later)
Filipino groups and nursing bodies have hit back at a Daily Mail article that criticised the NHS for “still hiring nurses from the Philippines, despite the scandal of Victorino Chua”.Filipino groups and nursing bodies have hit back at a Daily Mail article that criticised the NHS for “still hiring nurses from the Philippines, despite the scandal of Victorino Chua”.
Police have said they have no confidence in the authenticity of the nursing qualifications of Stepping Hill hospital nurse Chua, who was found guilty of murdering two patients.Police have said they have no confidence in the authenticity of the nursing qualifications of Stepping Hill hospital nurse Chua, who was found guilty of murdering two patients.
The Mail has since reported ongoing concerns about recruitment procedures, including claims that NHS applicants were permitted to cheat on entry tests and that nursing qualifications were subject to only cursory checks. The allegations have been denied by the recruitment agency.The Mail has since reported ongoing concerns about recruitment procedures, including claims that NHS applicants were permitted to cheat on entry tests and that nursing qualifications were subject to only cursory checks. The allegations have been denied by the recruitment agency.
The Mail report has been criticised for singling out nurses from the Philippines for special criticism on the basis of one criminal case.The Mail report has been criticised for singling out nurses from the Philippines for special criticism on the basis of one criminal case.
Daily Mail is shocked that NHS is still hiring Filipino nurses. Did they stop hiring English nurses after Beverley Allitt murdered children?Daily Mail is shocked that NHS is still hiring Filipino nurses. Did they stop hiring English nurses after Beverley Allitt murdered children?
So according to the daily mail, #victorinochua being a murderer means every filipino nurse probably is pic.twitter.com/BAcsqm6SsHSo according to the daily mail, #victorinochua being a murderer means every filipino nurse probably is pic.twitter.com/BAcsqm6SsH
Daily Mail attack on Filipino nurses and healthcare assistants is truly despicableDaily Mail attack on Filipino nurses and healthcare assistants is truly despicable
“It’s a damaging stereotype and a story like that is extremely controversial, and the community will feel unnerved by it,” Jan Brulc, of Migrants’ Rights Network, told the Guardian. “These workers play a vital role in the operation of the UK’s social care sector and the NHS. They work long hours caring for our elderly and sick and that needs to be recognised.” “It’s a damaging stereotype and a story like that is extremely controversial, and the community will feel unnerved by it,” Jan Brulc of Migrants’ Rights Network told the Guardian. “These workers play a vital role in the operation of the UK’s social care sector and the NHS. They work long hours caring for our elderly and sick and that needs to be recognised.”
Jamima Fagta, a project officer for Kanlungan Alliance, a network of Filipino groups aiming to empower migrant workers, said many in the community had expressed fears about a backlash.Jamima Fagta, a project officer for Kanlungan Alliance, a network of Filipino groups aiming to empower migrant workers, said many in the community had expressed fears about a backlash.
“When the Victorino Chua case was first highlighted in the media, we knew there would be a lot of attention on Filipinos,” she said. “Would it have been the same if it was a white nurse? It feels like an excuse to highlight the number of non-EU workers.”“When the Victorino Chua case was first highlighted in the media, we knew there would be a lot of attention on Filipinos,” she said. “Would it have been the same if it was a white nurse? It feels like an excuse to highlight the number of non-EU workers.”
One of those feeling intimidated by the headlines is Argie MacClean, a Filipino care worker from Edinburgh, who told the Guardian she felt the story was a “political move against non-EU workers”.One of those feeling intimidated by the headlines is Argie MacClean, a Filipino care worker from Edinburgh, who told the Guardian she felt the story was a “political move against non-EU workers”.
She cited a separate Daily Mail report from Manila where a journalist obtained false nursing qualification papers. “Yes, you can buy fake papers but you cannot use them,” she said. “You could not get past the checks at immigration, even at the British embassy in Manila.She cited a separate Daily Mail report from Manila where a journalist obtained false nursing qualification papers. “Yes, you can buy fake papers but you cannot use them,” she said. “You could not get past the checks at immigration, even at the British embassy in Manila.
MacClean came to the UK eight years ago and is now married to a Briton. “Most of my Filipino friends who work for the NHS are anxious, but they are here with clear papers and a clear conscience and they should not be made to feel afraid.”MacClean came to the UK eight years ago and is now married to a Briton. “Most of my Filipino friends who work for the NHS are anxious, but they are here with clear papers and a clear conscience and they should not be made to feel afraid.”
Related: Stepping Hill murders: how Victorino Chua's poisonings were uncoveredRelated: Stepping Hill murders: how Victorino Chua's poisonings were uncovered
A spokeswoman for the Nursing and Midwifery Council said there had been dramatic changes in the technology and procedures for recruiting nurses from outside the EEA since 2002, when Chua arrived in the UK. A spokeswoman for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) said there had been dramatic changes in the technology and procedures for recruiting nurses from outside the EEA since 2002, when Chua arrived in the UK.
Since the Chua case, the NMC has audited all 11,500 nurses from the Philippines who arrived between 2002 and 2006 and found none that required any regulatory action, she said. “There were no irregularities, although obviously we don’t have the capacity to detect any highly sophisticated frauds,” she said.Since the Chua case, the NMC has audited all 11,500 nurses from the Philippines who arrived between 2002 and 2006 and found none that required any regulatory action, she said. “There were no irregularities, although obviously we don’t have the capacity to detect any highly sophisticated frauds,” she said.
Before September 2005, applicants were accepted if their registration was verified with their home nursing regulator and after a period of supervised practice placements of up to 12 months. But in 2013, the NMC suspended the recruitment of some foreign nurses, including from the Philippines, because of concerns over qualifications.Before September 2005, applicants were accepted if their registration was verified with their home nursing regulator and after a period of supervised practice placements of up to 12 months. But in 2013, the NMC suspended the recruitment of some foreign nurses, including from the Philippines, because of concerns over qualifications.
Registration is now much more stringent, the NMC said, with nurses required to complete a study programme, face-to-face identification, computer tests and a practical exam.Registration is now much more stringent, the NMC said, with nurses required to complete a study programme, face-to-face identification, computer tests and a practical exam.
The Philippine Nurses Association of the UK said that testing was “rigorous and laborious” and that obtaining a false qualification that would pass requirements in the Philippines or in the UK was difficult. Chua’s case is “a chance to strengthen our ranks and close those avenues for irregularity,” it said.The Philippine Nurses Association of the UK said that testing was “rigorous and laborious” and that obtaining a false qualification that would pass requirements in the Philippines or in the UK was difficult. Chua’s case is “a chance to strengthen our ranks and close those avenues for irregularity,” it said.
“The positive contribution of Filipino nurses to the NHS is overwhelming,” the association said. “Filipino nurses have had [a] share of inferior and flawed individuals but generally the core is as dedicated, committed and professional as always.“The positive contribution of Filipino nurses to the NHS is overwhelming,” the association said. “Filipino nurses have had [a] share of inferior and flawed individuals but generally the core is as dedicated, committed and professional as always.
“To quantify the positive contribution of Filipino nurses to the NHS, just imagine the NHS today without a single Filipino nurse.”“To quantify the positive contribution of Filipino nurses to the NHS, just imagine the NHS today without a single Filipino nurse.”