The lure of nursing 'Down Under'

The BBC reports:

They entered nursing with high hopes of working in a valued profession which made a difference to people's lives.

But the staff shortages and cash cutbacks have taken their toll on nurses such as Sarah Hector and Rob Carey who have joined the exodus of staff heading for Australia.

According to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) 3,200 nurses of the 8,000 registering to work abroad want to work Down Under.

Senior intensive care nurse Sarah, left her job in London worn down by the National Health Service's problems.

"I was sad to leave the people and my friends because the people here are brilliant but it's just the conditions, the lack of staff, the lack of finance that I'm not sad to be leaving," she told BBC One's Real Story.

"You just come away each day feeling demoralised. You've given your utmost best yet you still can't give the level of care that your are trained to do and would so love to give."

She added: "I think my grievance with the NHS is a national thing - I think it is shared all over the UK.

"Everybody who works within the NHS, I think to a certain extent are disillusioned and would like change."

No word yet from American liberals on why socialist medicine in England isn't too popular.