Fears of an NHS staffing crisis are looming as the numbers of EU nurses registering to work in the UK has plunged dramatically.

Applications of this kind have plummeted from the 1,304 last July to just 46 in April this year, official figures show.

The nose dive figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Council come amid the health service's known struggle with a surge in demand and slashed funding.

It furthers the ongoing recruitment crisis, with the NHS desperately battling to find more doctors and paramedics.

The NHS has long relied on foreign staff to fill gaps in rotas, with a large proportion of these coming from Europe.

But the sharp fall in registrants suggest a more sustainable approach is needed to recruit, train and keep hold of British staff.

The statistics, obtained by The Health Foundation, should serve as a 'wake-up call' to politicians, experts stress.

Applications for EU nurses registering to work in the UK have plummeted from the 1,304 last July to just 46 in April this year, official figures show

'The drop could not be more stark'

Anita Charlesworth, director of research and economics at the Health Foundation, said: 'The recruitment and retention of nurses is one of the biggest challenges facing health and social care, with a shortage of 30,000 nurses in England alone.

'The drop in EU nurses registering to work in the UK could not be more stark - just 46 registered to work in the UK in April.

'Without EU nurses it will be even harder for the NHS and other employers to find the staff they need to provide safe patient care. The findings should be a wake-up call to politicians and health service leaders.

DWINDLING NUMBERS OF GPS Just last month it was reported that more than 900 family doctors left the NHS last year - despite a special programme designed to eradicate the growing shortage. Numbers of GPs across England are known to be dwindling in recent years, placing even more pressure on an over-stretched health service. In September 2015, there were 34,592 full-time GPs across the country. This dropped to 34,495 just a year later, NHS Digital data showed. While the number of these doctors has fallen by 542 since last April, when the NHS adopted a plan to recruit 5,000 extra GPs by 2021, Pulse reported. It shows the health service is falling well-short of Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's pledge, which was said to be the answer to the staffing shortage. Advertisement

'But the overall shortage of 30,000 nurses is not a shortage caused by the Brexit vote. The chronic shortage of nurses is the result of years of short-term planning and cuts to training places.

'A sustainable, long-term approach to workforce planning is desperately needed.'

'We rely on EU staff'

Janet Davies, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said: 'We rely on the contributions of EU staff and this drop in numbers could have severe consequences for patients and their families.

'Our nursing workforce is in a state of crisis, with more than 40,000 vacancies in England alone. Across our health service, from A&E to elderly care, this puts patients at serious risk.

'These figures should act as a wake-up call to the Government as they enter Brexit negotiations. EU staff should be left in no doubt that their contributions are welcome and valued.'

There are slightly more than 650,000 nurses registered to work in the UK, with five per cent of these having been trained in the UK.

Easier language tests

It comes just weeks after it was reported that easier language tests may be given to foreign nurses to boost staffing numbers.

Senior managers are campaigning for regulators to reduce the pass rate as too many are being turned away on the basis of their English.

One in 10 NHS nursing positions is unfilled, with 13 per cent of the workforce coming from overseas, according to statistics from the Institute of Employment Studies published last year.

A health boss last month warned that the NHS is in danger of facing a recruitment and morale crisis if the Government doesn't address concerns over pay freezes.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said he fears staff will flee the NHS in the coming years unless measures are taken to improve pay.