Nursing diplomas can be bought for as little as £43 in the Philippines, I can reveal today.

Doubts about Victorino Chua’s qualifications emerged after this newspaper alerted police to suspicions over his credentials back in 2012.

And – helped by my photographer colleague Jamie Wiseman - I have found there is a rampant trade in bogus exam certificates in Manila, with fixers and forgers always on hand to fabricate any document.

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Reporter Stephen Wright has uncovered a rampant trade in bogus exam certificates being sold in Manila. He managed to obtain all the documents he needed to work abroad for £43 - including a fake graduation photo

Stephen was also given a fake identification card by a fixer who advised him how to obtain work in the UK

He was also given a fake degree certificate (pictured) after visiting Recto Avenue in downtown Manila

The Mail’s revelations are a major embarrassment to ministers, hospital chiefs and officials at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which regulates nursing.

In March 2013, the council imposed a temporary recruitment freeze on foreign nurses amid fears that workers could have faked documents to get jobs here. Yet hundreds of nurses are still being recruited from the Philippines by NHS trusts, because of a massive shortfall of staff.

The ‘passport’ to a nursing job in the UK is provided by organised crime networks who employ some of the world’s best forgers.

On Recto Avenue in downtown Manila are stalls openly offering fake nursing degrees, education records, diploma pictures, police clearance to work overseas, passports, driving licences and birth and marriage certificates. Police turn a blind eye in return for bribes.

When Stephen visited Recto Avenue, dubbed ‘Xerox Alley’, a fixer for the forgers went through a list of documents required to become qualified - all of which were easily obtained

The fixer (pictured) even helpfully suggested which date he should graduate from Manila’s respected nursing college at Our Lady of Fatima University

When I visited Recto Avenue, dubbed ‘Xerox Alley’, a fixer for the forgers went through a list of documents I would require to become qualified, including a degree certificate, police clearance to work overseas and employment certificates and references.

All these were supplied for a total of £43. The fixer even helpfully suggested which date I should graduate from Manila’s respected nursing college at Our Lady of Fatima University.

Of course, the vast majority of Filipino nurses are qualified and have the correct credentials to work in the UK.

In this impoverished nation struggle to find the money to finish their degree courses and are tempted to buy their qualifications they need to obtain work in the UK where salaries are vastly higher

But many in this impoverished nation struggle to find the money to finish their degree courses and are tempted to buy their qualifications they need to obtain work in the UK where salaries are vastly higher.

In the run-up to yesterday’s court verdicts, NMC chief executive Jackie Smith told the Mail its vetting system was now ‘robust’ and that her staff insisted on seeing original education documents from prospective foreign nurses.

But a source close to the Stepping Hill case said: ‘Vetting of nurses in the Philippines is very, very poor. A lot is done on the word of the Philippines regulatory authorities.

‘They rely on stamped documents as proof of proper qualifications. This is why police can’t be certain that Chua’s qualifications are genuine.’

Another said: ‘We can’t be certain that the Philippines’ Professional Regulation Commission has exercised due diligence with regard to the NHS. Once you have a PRC stamp, you are more or less guaranteed a job in the UK.’