mental health nursing jobs in canada from uk

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How to move to Canada as a nurse

Nurses are integral to Canada’s healthcare system. The pandemic has intensified the shortage of skilled nurses across the country and consequently, the demand for internationally educated nurses has never been higher. 

Whether you recently qualified as a nurse abroad or have several years of nursing experience, immigrating to Canada can unlock a wide range of opportunities. In this article, we explore immigration programs you can leverage to move to Canada as a nurse, the provincial licensing process, and in-demand nursing jobs in Canada.

In this article:

Reasons to move to Canada as a nurse

Does canada accept foreign nurses, immigration programs for internationally qualified nurses, types of nursing licenses in canada, how to get licensed in canada as a foreign-trained nurse.

• In-demand jobs for nurses in Canada
• How much money do nurses make in Canada?
• How to find nursing jobs in Canada

Recruitment process for nursing jobs in Canada

Should you move to canada as an internationally educated nurse.

As an internationally trained nurse, settling in Canada can be an attractive opportunity for various reasons, including:

Shortage of skilled nurses in Canada

According to the government’s Job Bank , labour shortages in nursing will continue for the foreseeable future. Estimates show that, between 2019 and 2028, there will be 191,100 job openings for registered nurses (RNs) but only 154,600 qualified candidates (including new graduates and newcomers) to fill these positions, creating a nationwide shortfall of 36,500 registered nurses. Between 2019 and 2021, job vacancies for registered nurses and nurse aids and patient service associates in Canada have nearly doubled .

Nursing is an in-demand job in most provinces 

Nurses are in demand in most provinces , including Ontario , British Columbia , Quebec , Alberta , and Manitoba . Active efforts are underway to recruit and train nurses, as well as to make it easier for internationally educated nurses to immigrate to Canada.

Ontario, for instance, allocated $342 million in its 2021 provincial budget to add 5,000 new and upskilled registered nurses and registered practical nurses to its healthcare workforce. Similarly, Quebec plans to recruit 1,000 foreign-trained Francophone nurses by 2023.

Nurses earn high salaries in Canada

Although nursing salaries vary based on province and the National Occupation Classification (NOC) code your occupation falls under, nursing jobs in Canada generally pay well. The median income for registered nurses in Canada is around $76,000 per year, but many RNs earn as much as $92,000 per year.

Internationally educated nurses are essential in keeping Canada’s healthcare system running smoothly. Several Canadian immigration programs prioritize the selection of newcomers in in-demand occupations, such as nursing, for permanent residence (PR).

However, before you move to Canada as a nurse and start looking for jobs, you must be licensed in the province you intend to work in. Most provinces allow you to start the licensing process remotely, allowing foreign nurses to enter the job market sooner.

Canada allows newcomers with the skills and qualifications needed to bridge critical skill gaps to apply for permanent residence . There are several PR programs you can choose from to move to Canada as a nurse.

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program

The Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program allows internationally qualified skilled workers to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents. Under the FSW program, applicants are selected based on their profile’s Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) rather than occupation. 

Your CRS score is based on factors such as your age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and other factors. You also get additional points if you have a Canadian job offer, a provincial nomination, (see below section on PNP) or Canadian work experience or educational credentials. 

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

All Canadian provinces and territories, except Quebec and Nunavut, have Provincial Nominee Programs that allow them to nominate applicants with the skills and qualifications needed to bridge labour shortages. 

Selection for Express Entry PNP streams is based on CRS scores, but other PNP streams allow provinces to nominate skilled workers in specific professions or National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes to meet urgent market demands. You may have a better chance of receiving a provincial nomination from a province that is looking for qualified nurses. See the section on  in-demand nursing jobs below for relevant NOC codes for nursing.

Here are some PNP streams and draws you should keep track of as you prepare to immigrate to Canada as a nurse.

Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP)

The Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) allows the provincial government of Quebec to invite applicants who have the skills, training, experience, and language skills to work and settle in the province.

Applicants in all occupations can submit an Expression of Interest under the RSWP and selection is based on factors such as age, language proficiency in French and English, years of experience, education, and more. Once you are selected, you receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (also known as a Certificat de sélection du Québec or CSQ) and can apply for PR with the IRCC. 

Nursing is a regulated occupation in Canada, and you must be licensed by your provincial or territorial regulator before you can work as a nurse in Canada. Most provinces allow you to start the licensing process before you arrive in Canada. 

There are three main types of nursing licenses in Canada that are based on the level of education and skill required and job responsibilities: 

• Nurse Practitioner (NP) : To qualify for an NP license, you must have a master’s degree in nursing or an advanced nursing credential with a specialization in adult, pediatric, or primary healthcare along with work experience as a registered nurse (or equivalent). In some jurisdictions, the NP license is considered an extension of the RN license, and applicants must first register for, or be eligible for, an RN license.
• Registered Nurse (RN) and Registered Psychiatric Nurse: You can qualify for an RN license if you have a bachelor’s degree in nursing. If you earned your degree more than three years ago, you must provide evidence of recent nursing practice.
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN, also known as Registered Practical Nurse) : You can qualify for an LPN license if you have a diploma in nursing. If you earned your diploma more than three years ago, you must provide evidence of recent nursing practice.

Depending on the province you apply to, the license names may differ and there may also be entry-level licenses for nursing students or fresh graduates. In some provinces, such as British Columbia and Alberta, the licensing process for Registered Psychiatric Nurses is separate from that for RNs.

British Columbia, Ontario, and Nova Scotia each have a single college that regulates all categories of nurses. In all other provinces and territories, different nursing categories have their own regulator. Visit your provincial/territorial regulator’s website for more information on the licensing process for your nursing category:

Once you’ve determined your eligibility, you must apply for the applicable nursing license. You must first obtain a report from the National Nursing Assessment Service, after which you must register with your provincial regulator, provide the required documents, and pay a licensing fee. Although the licensing requirements vary by province/territory, the process typically involves the following:

Registration with National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS)

Internationally educated nurses who qualify for an RN, RPN, or LN license must complete an online National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) application before immigrating to Canada. Here are the key steps for registering with the NNAS:

• Create an online account, pay the fee, and start your application: Select one nursing category and one province for your application and pay the main application order fee of $650 USD plus taxes. You have 12 months to complete your documentation and submit your application after paying the fee.
• Provide your identity documents: Submit notarized, signed copies of two identification documents, including one photo ID, such as your passport, driver’s license, or other government-issued identification. Other acceptable identity documents include birth certificates, name change affidavits, and marriage certificates.
• Submit your nursing education form: Send printed copies of the form to each international post-secondary institution you attended for your nursing education. The institutions will have to send the completed forms, along with your academic transcripts and course descriptions, directly to NNAS. Internationally qualified nurses DO NOT require a separate Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA).
• Submit your nursing registration form: Send printed copies of the form to all licensing authorities where you were registered as a nurse outside Canada. The licensing authorities will need to complete the form and send it to NNAS directly.
• Submit your nursing employment form: Send printed copies of this form to all the employers you’ve worked for in the past five years. Your employers must send the completed forms to NNAS directly.
• Submit your language test results: If your first language isn’t English or French, you must appear for an approved language test ( IELTS , CELBAN, or TEF) and meet the minimum score threshold. If you live and work in a country where the primary language is English/French and your nursing study program was in one of these languages, you don’t need to submit language test results.

NNAS will assess your foreign nursing credentials and compare them to Canadian qualifications for the purpose of licensing. It will also review your identification documents, international work experience, language test results, and other key documents. NNAS will then prepare a report on your nursing education, registration history, and experience and send it to your provincial regulatory authority.

Apply to register as a nurse in your province

After completing your NNAS application, contact your provincial or territorial regulator and ask them to consider your application for a nursing license. The regulator will only start the process after they receive your file from NNAS. At this stage, you need to pay an initial application fee which varies by province and nursing category.

The provincial regulator will review your nursing education credentials, evidence of recent practice (work experience in the past three years) and proof of language proficiency. If your application doesn’t meet the licensing requirements, you may be asked to complete additional education or evaluations before you can qualify. 

To qualify for a provincial nursing license, you must also:

• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or have authorization to work in Canada.
• Pass the Registration Examination for the applicable nursing category to prove your competency. RN license applicants must appear for the NCLEX-RN exam (National Council Licensure Examination) while LPN applicants must give the REx-PN test (Regulatory Exam – Practical Nurse).
• Complete the Jurisprudence Examination to demonstrate your knowledge of the laws, regulations, standards, and guidelines that apply to the nursing profession in your province or territory.
• Declare whether you suffer from any mental or physical condition or disorder that might impact your ability to practice nursing.
• Submit a criminal background check report and declare any past offences or instances where you were refused registration as a nurse in any country.

After you’ve met all the licensing requirements, you can pay the registration and first year membership fee and complete your registration online.

In-demand jobs for nurses in Canada 

Many provinces and territories require nurses to meet local labour market needs. According to recent provincial and territorial data, the following nursing jobs are most in-demand across Canada:

How much money do nurses make in Canada? 

Average salaries for nurses in Canada vary by province, area of expertise, and years of work experience. According to the Government of Canada’s Job Bank, registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses earn a median wage of $40/hour in Canada, with median salaries being the highest in Nunavut ($67.83/hour), Northwest Territories ($53.23/hour), Yukon ($45.28/hour), and Saskatchewan ($44.23/hour). In parts of British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba where the shortage of registered nurses is more severe, hourly salaries of more than $50 are common.

Nurse practitioners earn a median wage of around $53.37/hour in Canada, while licensed practical nurses can make between $22 and $33.23 per hour.

How to find nursing jobs in Canada 

Since most provinces allow you to complete the nursing licensing process from outside Canada, you can start looking for your first nursing job in Canada before you arrive. Here are some tips to help you find a suitable role :

Familiarize yourself with local job market requirements

The skills and qualifications Canadian employers look for in nurses may be different from your home country. The easiest way to identify skills gaps and suitable job opportunities is to review job postings for your nursing category. Some job descriptions, for instance, may require applicants to have specific certifications or training to work in a particular field of expertise. These can be a good starting point to prepare for the job market .

Gather additional qualifications and skills

To position yourself as a strong candidate for nursing jobs in Canada, you may want to invest in additional certifications and skill-building programs. Some sought-after certifications, such as basic life support, CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and first-aid certifications, can be completed before you get your RN/LPN license.

Craft a Canadian-style nursing resume

Resume formats from your home country may not be well-suited to the Canadian job market. The ideal format for your resume will depend on how much practical nursing experience you have. Many Canadian employers shortlist resumes using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) , so be sure to customize your resume for each job and include keywords from the job description. To get started, download our free Canadian-style resume templates . 

Explore job search platforms and employer websites

Job portals such as Job Bank, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Monster, GrabJobs, and Indeed are great places to look for job opportunities . In addition, you should create a list of hospitals, healthcare providers, and non-profit organizations that hire nurses and keep tabs on their websites’ career pages.

Build your professional network

Networking is crucial for nurses in Canada. Connect with nurses and healthcare professionals in your province on LinkedIn or through professional associations and nurture meaningful relationships through one-to-one coffee chats . Volunteering is another great way to meet healthcare professionals in your region. Networking gives you access to job opportunities that may not be available publicly and allows you to gather information regarding the licensing process, job market, and hiring process specific employers follow.

In Canada, employers shortlist candidates for nursing interviews based on their resumes and cover letters . Although many healthcare employers fill open positions through referrals from their network or by advertising the vacancy, some organize open interview days, where qualified nursing candidates can appear for walk-in interviews.

The initial round is typically a screening interview where the recruiter asks about your credentials, interest in nursing, and approach to patient care. If you’re shortlisted, you’ll undergo multiple interview rounds , including a culture fit interview to assess your soft skills and team fit.

After your selection, the employer will conduct background screening and reference checks to verify your identity, credentials, nursing license, employment history, and past conduct. Finally, the employer will make an offer of employment, which you can accept outright or after negotiating its terms .

Qualified nurses are highly sought after in all provinces of Canada and the local supply isn’t enough to meet the labour market needs. As an internationally-trained nurse, Canada’s immigration programs offer you an exciting, lucrative opportunity to move to Canada and settle permanently. However, the licensing process can be time-consuming and you may need to complete some provincial examinations or further education before you can land a job as a licensed nurse in Canada.

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Summary mental health nurse in canada.

Find key facts and figures about working as a mental health nurse. The following information is applicable to all Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 31301).

Description

Requirements, competencies.

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses provide direct nursing care to patients, deliver health education programs and provide consultative services regarding issues relevant to the practice of nursing. They are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, rehabilitation centres, doctors' offices, clinics, community agencies, companies, private homes and public and private organizations or they may be self-employed.

Learn more about mental health nurse

This occupation usually requires a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate).

View job requirements about Job requirements

$40.39/hour

Median wage in Canada

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The job prospects vary across Canada depending on the province or territory.

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advertised in Canada

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• Social Perceptiveness
• Coordinating
• Decision Making

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Nursing Jobs in Canada

Suzanne Greaney shares her experiences on the process of obtaining an international nursing license in Canada.

Updated on June 17, 2024

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Nursing jobs in Canada: information and advice for recent and prospective newcomers to Canada. A special thanks to Suzanne Greaney for providing invaluable personal insights in the creation of this guide on nursing jobs in Canada.

One of the greatest opportunities a Bachelor Degree in Nursing Science will offer you is travel. Nurses have always travelled the world. In recent years Australia, the UAE and the UK have probably become more popular with international nurses. However, as we enter the 2020s, being an international nurse in Canada has become an an increasing attractive proposition.

When I qualified as a nurse in 2013, I never considered looking for nursing jobs in Canada as I knew obtaining my license would involve sitting an exam. So, like lots of other Irish people, I set off for Australia. After one year working there, I decided the distance from home was too much and moved back to Ireland.

Fast forward to 2020 and here I am living in Toronto, in the process of obtaining my nursing license. It has felt like a long road at times but I’m glad that I stuck with it and am about to begin my nursing career in Canada.

Thanks to a relatively robust health care system , Canada is an attractive destination for international candidates seeking to grow their nursing career in Canada. Nurses who are most-highly sought-after include those with specialist skills in emergency departments or operating rooms, and those who wish to work in a remote or isolated indigenous communities.

However, there are some important points job seekers need to be aware of in order to secure nursing jobs in Canada. The first is that your international credentials will need to be assessed, and you’ll need to become licensed to practice in Canada — more on that below. Second, procedures differ from one province or territory to another. This means you should have a destination or two in mind as you complete your research.

Applying for nursing jobs in Canada

So, you’ve got the nursing qualifications from abroad but how can you leverage this training and experience into a fulfilling nursing career in Canada? Let’s find out!

The process of becoming a nurse in Canada

The NNAS is the National Nursing Assessment Service for Canada and the US, and this is the first step to getting your license: register with this online service. You can do this prior to arriving in Canada if you wish.

Registration with the NNAS involves completing an online form providing your demographics, education, professional experience for the past five years, and declaring every nursing body you are currently or have previously been registered with.

You will need to apply to the NNAS if you were educated abroad and are seeking nursing jobs in Canada (outside of Quebec and the Territories), in one of the below roles:

• Registered Nurse (RN)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN)

Registration is not cheap. You will need to pay a fee of $765 USD to register with the NNAS (as of 2020). The process involves sending notary-signed copies of your identification documents (passport, birth certificate) and having relevant people from your college, previous employment ,and nursing bodies you are registered with complete the forms provided by NNAS. The website provides video tutorials on how to complete these forms, and you have one year from the date of registering with NNAS to return all documents.

You should be approved by the NNAS once all documents have been returned. However, it should be noted that this can take up to a year. Once approved, you will have permission to apply for licensure in your destination province In Canada.

The NNAS will provide an initial assessment of your credentials and match these to comparable Canadian standards. The NNAS have an online handbook you can use to learn more.

In addition to the NNAS, each province in Canada requires you to sit an English exam, or French if you are hoping to work in Quebec, if you cannot provide proof of fluency in the English language. The NCLEX exam is the test used to determine your English language skills.

In 2021, the Canadian government announced new funding to help foreign nurses with their credential recognition. Learn more about this initiative here .

What you need to know about the NCLEX

Most provinces and territories will require strong English-language skills in order to practice. In Quebec, knowledge of French is often, though not always, required. You will need to complete an exam to complete the registration process. Outside Quebec, this exam is known as the NCLEX-RN exam, provided by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) purpose is to ensure you are safe to begin practicing as a nurse. When it comes to nursing jobs in Canada as foreigner, you need to know that every nurse trained in North America needs to pass this exam. It is a computerised, mostly multiple-choice intuitive exam. There are multiple online tutoring options to help prepare it, including UWorld . If you do not pass first time around, you can repeat the exam. Once you pass the NCLEX, it is valid across North America.

It is recommended to complete as much of the application and registration process from your home country as is possible. It is generally easier to obtain documents related to your international credentials from your home country, as you avoid unwanted time differences, international calling rates, and other hassle that can arise when dealing with bureaucracy from abroad.

You can learn more by contacting the relevant regulatory for your province or territory.

• College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia
• College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta
• Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association
• College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba
• College of Nurses of Ontario
• Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec
• Nurses Association of New Brunswick
• College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia
• Association of Registered Nurses of Prince Edward Island
• College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Yukon Registered Nurses Association

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What to do while awaiting your canadian nursing license.

My advice for an internationally qualified nurse looking to work in Canada is to start networking within the health care setting from the moment you arrive in the country. Update your resume on LinkedIn and Indeed and apply for administration jobs within the health care setting. Once you are working within the field you will get to speak to nurses and doctors of all different specialities and backgrounds, which can greatly help navigate your career path once you have your license.

What to expect from nursing jobs in Canada

Like many health services globally right now, Canada is experiencing health service challenges with lack of public services, staffing shortages, and increased wait times for procedures. As a Registered Nurse (RN) in a public service hospital, you will have higher acuity of patients in your care as hospitals tend to hire more registered practice nurses (RPN) as cost-effective staffing measures.

While the above challenges are present throughout Canada, there is still potential for career development and growth in the public services as well as ample opportunity to work within privately owned practices as well.

So why choose Canada?

Prior to choosing Canada, I thought about nursing in the UK as I know there is huge prospects for career development and education. However, with Brexit at the time I wasn’t sure about it.

I applied to the Middle East and did several remote interviews. I had four years’ experience at that time, and I was offered a tax-free salary of €42,000 (~$62,000CAD), however the standard working week was 48 hours. The nursing license, once granted, would only have allowed me to work in the hospital I was contracted, meaning I would be quite limited. Middle East destinations also typically offer 40 days of annual leave compared to the 15 days standard starting point here as an RN in Canada. However, in the contract I was advised this can’t be taken in the first six months, meaning I would have to work at least a 48-hour week every week for six months straight. When I weighed up the offer, I decided not to take it.

When it comes to nursing jobs in Canada, the country offers a competitive salary for a 36-40 hour working week. In Ontario the new graduate acute care salary is almost $59,000CAD with an annual increment pay increase. This compares very favourably with Ireland, where I am from, where a new graduate starts off on less than €30,000 (~$45,000CAD) per year. The pay varies according to your province, so take the time to research the city and province you will be living in closely before making a final decision.

Another benefit is health coverage, which generally kicks in after three months of living in the country. In addition, you may be able to access extra health care benefits and bonuses with your employer if you choose to work in the private sector.

Having lived in Australia, another huge bonus is that Canada is geographically closer to home for those of us from Ireland, the UK, and the rest of Europe. Although I am still in the process of obtaining my license, I am almost one year into my IEC visa now having moved to Toronto last summer, I have nearly survived my first winter, and I am very happy I chose to relocate to Canada!

Nursing jobs in Canada for international nurses

Review these resources to help you be successful in interviews, and to sharpen your resume (CV) as you apply for jobs for nurses in Canada.

• Finding jobs in Canada
• Resume format in Canada
• Write the perfect cover letter
• 57 interview questions you could be asked
• Networking in Canada
• In-demand jobs in Canada

For more, download our free  Getting Started Guide to help you plan your move and job search in Canada.”

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• 10 May 2024

Why I emigrated from the UK to Canada as a nurse

• Audrey Barnwell Clinical Educator for PICU, British Columbia Children's Hospital
• Save for later

Build your career, expand your nursing skills and embrace an ambitious adventure in British Columbia, Canada. BC Health Careers is running a webinar on 16th May 2024 at 6pm so you can ask questions and find out more. If you’ve ever thought about what life would be like if you took your nursing career overseas to Canada, then you’ll naturally have questions about how you would do this, and what your work and home life would be like if you did. The BC Health Careers team can answer all of these questions, and more.

Register here for the webinar .

Audrey's story - from London NHS nurse to living and working in Canada

I left the UK and my job as a paediatric nurse for the NHS for the west coast of Canada many years ago. I was looking for a change, a better nursing career, and a safer living environment. I found it here in Vancouver and have never looked back. Here is my story, why I would recommend other UK nurses think about following in my footsteps, and what you need to know if you’re thinking about emigrating to Canada as a nurse from the UK.

My nursing career started in 1997. I was working for British Rail and one day thought to myself, why am I doing this? This is not what I actually wanted to do. I want to be a paediatric nurse. I always knew I had wanted to work as a nurse or paediatric doctor. I applied for different nursing schools and got into King’s College London.

My first move to Canada

I’m a naturally curious person and the ICU nurses would come into our ward and pick up the kids and they would say some strange things that I didn't understand, but I wanted to know. But, first of all, I wanted to do some travel nursing before moving to ICU. So I applied to this hospital for sick children in Toronto in Canada and I went there for a couple of years, two years. I spent time in the emergency department. I met my husband there before we returned home to London.

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After 4 years, we decided to leave for Canada again

On my return from my two years in Toronto I worked between the emergency and paediatric departments at Saint Mary’s in Paddington. I spent about four years there in total in between the emergency and PICU.

But things were tough in the NHS. The work was heavy. We had staff shortages. And outside of work there were moments I wasn’t feeling very safe going home - early in the morning, or late at night.

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Mental health nurse UK to Canada

Hi, I hope this sub is suitable for my query. I am planning to begin my masters degree to become a qualified mental health nurse in the UK. My girlfriend lives in Canada and I’m hoping to move out there to live with her eventually (probably even move to Canada if things don’t work out with her anyway). My plan was to become qualified in the UK, work for a couple of years here to get experience and then apply to move to Canada. I understand the qualifications required are slightly different in Canada so I’m assuming I’d have to do some further training or studying there. I already have 3+ years work experience in mental health and an undergrad degree in psychology, not sure if that will help me much. Does anyone have any advice on how to go about this? Would it be better (or even possible) to study in Canada rather than here in the uk? If anyone has been in a similar situation I’d love to hear about it.

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‘Racism absolutely must not be tolerated’

STEVE FORD, EDITOR

• You are here: Public health

UK health system braces as mpox designated global emergency

16 August, 2024 By Edd Church

Source:  Shutterstock

New guidance has been issued to nurses in the UK on mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, after the virus was designated a global health emergency.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday (15 August) stated that a surge in cases of mpox in parts of Africa constituted a public health emergency of international concern.

"Planning is underway to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK" Meera Chand

It comes amid the emergence of a new 'clade 1' variant of mpox which is believed to be more severe. The first clade 1 case has recently been reported in Europe, from Sweden.

After an initial outbreak in Europe in 2022, which involved the clade 2 variant and threatened to overwhelm sexual health services in the UK, cases of mpox began to decline.

However, at the end of 2023, they started to rise again in the continent and mpox has remained in low but steady circulation since then.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) welcomed WHO’s designation of a public health emergency, but deputy director Dr Meera Chand said the risk to the UK population was currently low.

“However, planning is underway to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK,” said Dr Chand.

“This includes ensuring that clinicians are aware and able to recognise cases promptly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are developed for the safe clinical care of people who have the infection and the prevention of onward transmission.”

Mpox is an infection which causes, among other symptoms, a skin rash similar to chickenpox.

Other symptoms include a high temperature, body aches, swollen glands, exhaustion and joint pain with the skin rash often progressing into blisters which scab and fall off.

In most cases, mpox runs its course in a few weeks – but it can be fatal, particularly for those with weak immune systems.

It is transmitted through close physical contact with an infected individual, such as sex; touching skin, clothing, bedding or towels; and through droplets found in coughs or sneezes.

In some parts of the world, mostly western and central Africa, mpox can also be transmitted through contact with rodents.

A vaccination against the virus which cases mpox is available from the NHS for those who are “most likely” to be exposed, such as nurses and other healthcare workers.

Also after the WHO announcement, UKHSA updated its guidance for nurses and other healthcare workers on mpox to warn them of the new clade 1 variant, which is yet to reach the UK.

Given the potential for transmission through sexual contact between people, sexual health organisations have began circulating further guidance to professionals within the specialty.

A joint statement by the British HIV Association (BHIVA) and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) read: “We recognise that there are communities we serve, particularly those disproportionately affected by clade 2 mpox in the UK, who may be particularly concerned.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with our partners to communicate and respond to any developments.”

Pressure has also begun to be exerted on employers to ensure they are keeping staff safe.

Public service worker union Unison, which represents nursing staff and other hospital workers, asked its members to speak with employers to make sure measures from the 2022 outbreak remain in place.

Donna Rowe-Merriman, Unison’s national secretary for business, community and environment, added: “Employers are urged to take action now to ensure all appropriate measures are in place to protect staff and the public across a wide range of sectors to prevent any future cases from spreading."

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Mental health adjustments – Reasonable adjustments at work

• What reasonable adjustments are
• Mental health adjustments
• Making a request
• Having a meeting
• Failing to make adjustments
• Reviewing and keeping a record
• Having a policy

Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It affects how someone thinks, feels and behaves.

Mental health problems can:

• happen suddenly, because of a specific event in someone's life
• build up gradually over time
• be hard to spot because everyone has different signs and signals
• be hidden because many people find it difficult to talk about their mental health
• fluctuate over time which means that an employee's ability to cope with the demands of the job might change

If an employee has a mental health problem, their employer should take it seriously, with the same care as for physical illness.

A mental health problem can be a disability under the Equality Act 2010. If an employee has a disability, their employer must make reasonable adjustments.

When making reasonable adjustments for mental health, employers should take into account that:

• every job is different, so what works in one situation might not work in another
• every employee is different, so what works for one employee might not work for another
• mental health changes over time, so what works for an employee now might not work in the future

Examples of reasonable adjustments for mental health

Reasonable adjustments are specific to an individual person. They can cover any area of work.

Working hours and patterns

For example:

• more frequent, shorter breaks
• paid time off for medical appointments
• flexible hours
• part-time or job share arrangements

Changing someone's role and responsibilities

• reviewing tasks or deadlines to help someone have a reasonable workload while managing their mental health
• breaking down work into short term tasks to reduce the complexity of someone's work and to provide structure to the working day
• reviewing someone's responsibilities to reduce those that are more stressful – for example reducing phone calls or customer facing work
• moving someone into a different role or department if their current job has a negative impact on their mental health

Reviewing working relationships and communication styles

• making sure someone is working with trusted people to limit the impact of different working and communication styles
• agreeing a preferred communication method to help reduce anxiety – for example by avoiding spontaneous phone calls

Changing the physical working environment

• allowing someone to work from home to manage distractions or engage in activities that allow them to manage their mental health – for example, so they can take regular breaks without feeling other people are watching them
• relocating someone's workspace to a quieter area to reduce sensory demands
• providing rest areas away from the main staff area to allow someone to rest away from social demands
• providing reserved parking to reduce the stress of commuting

Being flexible with policies

• offering paid time off for someone to attend appointments in work time
• being flexible with trigger points for absence so that someone is not disadvantaged by taking absence when they are unwell
• offering an extended phased return to support someone to build up hours gradually and continue their recovery

Additional support

• modifying supervision to provide regular check-ins, prioritising work and creating structure in the working day
• providing training or coaching to build confidence in skills relevant to the job
• providing a buddy or mentor to be a dedicated person who can support with work tasks

Case studies

Read case studies about making reasonable adjustments for mental health

Talking about reasonable adjustments for mental health

Conversations about reasonable adjustments for mental health might come about because:

• a manager notices that someone in their team is struggling with their mental health
• an employee asks to have a conversation about work adjustments for mental health
• an employee speaks to HR or occupational health and they recommend reasonable adjustments for mental health

What an employer should do

As an employer, you should help an employee who requests reasonable adjustments to:

• look after their mental health at work
• understand what to expect from a meeting about reasonable adjustments

For example, you could:

• ask them how they are
• make it clear they should look after themselves and focus on managing their mental health
• check if they have accessed support available through work – for example mental health support
• let them know about any policies that are relevant to reasonable adjustments for mental health
• let them know that the organisation will try to support them in accessing reasonable adjustments
• explain the reasonable adjustments process and procedures
• agree on a reasonable adjustment meeting date

What an employee should do

Someone experiencing mental health problems might not be sure what they need to manage their mental health. They might not know what adjustments to suggest.

As an employee, there are several things you can think about when deciding what reasonable adjustments will help. This can help you prepare for a conversation with your employer about reasonable adjustments.

Think about how your mental health affects your work

• Are there times in the day or week that are better or harder, or do you feel the same all the time?
• Are there tasks at home or at work that feel possible and easy to do now?
• Are there tasks at home or at work that feel unmanageable now?

Think about how work affects your mental health

• Are there some tasks or situations that make you feel good?
• Are there some tasks or situations that make you feel anxious, worried or numb?

Talk to a friend or family member

You can talk to a friend or family member to ask them what they see and think. People can find it hard to recognise patterns in their behaviour, especially when they are experiencing mental health problems.

For example, you could ask:

• When am I confident, settled and happy? What am I doing? Who am I with?
• When am I unsettled, anxious or withdrawn? What am I doing? Who am I with?

If an employee's mental health problem is not a disability

An employee's mental health problem might not be a disability.

You should still offer support and explore whether adjustments can help. Simple changes to working arrangements or responsibilities could be enough.

Making adjustments for mental health can:

• help employees to stay in work while recovering from or managing a mental health condition
• make sure employees are well, safe and productive
• create a healthy work culture by building awareness and showing a commitment to good practice
• make it more likely that employees will stay at your organisation, reducing recruitment and training costs

If you like, you can tell us more about what was useful on this page. We cannot reply – so do not include any personal details, for example your email address or phone number. If you have any questions about your individual circumstances, you can contact the Acas helpline .

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How Did Mpox Become a Global Emergency? What’s Next?

The virus is evolving, and the newest version spreads more often through heterosexual populations. Sweden reported the first case outside Africa.

• Share full article

By Apoorva Mandavilli

Apoorva Mandavilli covered the 2022 mpox outbreak and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Faced once again with a rapidly spreading epidemic of mpox, the World Health Organization on Wednesday declared a global health emergency. The last time the W.H.O. made that call was in 2022, when the disease was still called monkeypox.

Ultimately the outbreak affected nearly 100,000 people worldwide, primarily gay and bisexual men, including more than 32,000 in the United States.

The W.H.O.’s decision this time was prompted by an escalating crisis of mpox concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It recently spread to a dozen other African countries. If it is not contained, the virus again may rampage all over the world, experts warned.

On Thursday, Sweden reported the first case of a deadlier form of mpox outside Africa , in a person who had traveled to the continent. “Occasional imported cases like the current one may continue to occur,” the country’s public health agency warned.

“There’s a need for concerted effort by all stakeholders, not only in Africa, but everywhere else,” Dr. Dimie Ogoina, a Nigerian scientist and chair of the W.H.O.’s mpox emergency committee, said on Wednesday.

Congo alone has reported 15,600 mpox cases and 537 deaths, most of them among children under 15, indicating that the nature of the disease and its mode of spread may have changed.

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