Today's Guardian uses the case of an Australian charge nurse keen to work in the UK to highlight the slow pace of the UK system which vets overseas applications to work in the health service.

Despite having the right language and qualifications, the Australian nurse has had to wait for nearly a year and is now preparing to return home at the end of the week.Forum Response; Royal College of Nursing

Dr Beverly Malone, general secretary of the RCN, told ePolitix.com: "I am concerned that this is still a problem for many nurses and I know that it is a major worry for them. At a time of nursing shortages, it is vital that every trained and qualified nurse is registered promptly so that they can provide good patient care.

"I am assured, however, that the NMC are doing their utmost to put in place measures that will ensure registration papers are dealt with in a speedy manner."

Forum Response: Nursing and Midwifery Council

A spokesman for the NMC told ePolitix.com: "We are breaking the back of the backlog we inherited and, at the same time, are reviewing all systems and processes for getting on the register. We want these to be simpler, less bureaucratic and quicker."