Thousands of nurses fear they may lose their jobs after Britain voted to leave the European Union.

In a letter addressed to the Observer, health officials from Hertfordshire stressed the value of employees from the EU.

Almost 3,000 nurses working in NHS hospitals in the east of England are EU nationals. With the uncertainty of Britain’s future, many are worried about the security of their jobs.

West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust director of human resources Paul de Gama said: “Our overseas staff provide fantastic support to the trust and our patients.

“At least one fifth of our nursing staff are from the EU. We work hard to recruit and retain them and they are a vital and much valued part of our workforce.

“They have been worried about the result of the referendum and what it means to them. We have sought to reassure them and have pledged our support.

“We are continuing to recruit from the EU. We do not anticipate any changes in the short term but we are taking a very keen interest in the evolving situation.”

A number of health officials including the director of Health and Community services at Hertfordshire County Council Iain MacBeath and the chief executive of the Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust David Law wrote to the Watford Observer expressing concern about their staff’s futures.

They said implications of leaving the EU are “unclear” and said many employees feel “concerned” about their future, both in terms of work and family life.

Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group chair Nicolas Small said: “Hertfordshire’s health and social care organisations are enormously grateful to the professionals from non-UK EU countries who care for our residents.

“It is essential that we do everything possible to retain their invaluable work in the future.”

On July 21, the House of Lords debated the impact Brexit would have on NHS and social care.

Led by Baroness Mary Watkins, the motion to take note of the situation was agreed.

Speaking at the debate, Baroness Watkins said: “The decision to leave the EU leaves us with serious uncertainty on the current and future supply of the lifeblood of our NHS, the private, voluntary and social care sectors—namely, the workforce.

“EU nationals play an integral role in delivering safe, high-quality care now more than ever, and our NHS is particularly dependent on these crucial staff.

“Yet EU nationals already working in these services are worried about what their future holds and whether they will be able to continue to make a valuable contribution to our society.

“Likewise, patients and users of our NHS have the same questions. Let me be clear: these professionals are highly valued and we simply cannot do without them.”