A Ghanaian nurse working in Birmingham has shared her incredible journey and the positive transformation her life has undergone since she left Ghana’s health system to work in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
Choosing to pursue her career in Britain, Nana Yaa – a pseudonym – sought new opportunities and better earnings to support herself and her family. Her dream was to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field and provide excellent care to patients.
During an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Thursday, August 3, Yaa expressed how the meager salary in Ghana made it challenging for her to reach her full potential.
Determined to change her circumstances and excel in her profession, she bravely relocated to the UK, hoping to create a brighter future for herself and her family.
Since moving, she has been able to save a significant amount of money and encouraged other nurses who desire to work abroad to take the opportunity and follow suit.
Yaa highlighted that nurses in the UK are paid based on shifts, and even with a wage of £15 per hour and working 12 hours a day, four times a week, the earnings can be substantial. With her current income, she can comfortably save around £800 a month after paying taxes and rent.
Her statements come in the wake of a BBC report revealing that Ghana’s health system is facing challenges due to the “brain drain,” as many specialized nurses have left the country in pursuit of better-paying jobs overseas.
In 2022, over 1,200 Ghanaian nurses registered to work in the UK, a trend reflecting the increasing reliance of the National Health Service on staff from non-EU countries to fill vacancies.