UK plans fast-track visas for migrants working in health service

 

A doctor holds her stethoscope in an outpatients ward at a hospital in west London April 4, 2011. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Files

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Friday it would make it easier for migrants to move to the United Kingdom to work in the National Health Service (NHS), helping to offset a possible fall in numbers caused by the exit from the European Union.

 

The Conservative government is planning to bring in an Australian-style points-based system in 2021 after leaving the EU in a bid to get tighter control of immigration, an issue which commentators said was a major factor in Britons voting for Brexit three years ago.

 

The future of the NHS is one of the key issues in the campaign for Britain’s general election next month.

 

About 153,000 of 1.2 million health workers are non-British, and critics have said the end of freedom of movement for EU citizens after Brexit would deprive the NHS, one of the world’s largest employers, of a vital pool of workers.

 

At the same time, it was feared that many medical staff who come from other areas of the globe, especially nurses, would fail to meet the strict salary requirements of the new system. About 52,000 of current NHS staff are Asian nationals.

 

The government said the new NHS Visa would allow it to control immigration while ensuring there would not be a skills shortage for the health service.

 

The fast-track scheme would halve visa fees to 464 pounds ($595) and give applicants preferential treatment and faster decisions.

 

“These measures are part of our plan for an Australian-style points-based immigration system that allows us to control numbers while remaining open to vital professions like nurses,” Home Secretary (interior minister) Priti Patel said in a statement.

 

“That means the best of both worlds - attracting talent from around the world so our NHS continues to provide brilliant service while ensuring that it isn’t put under strain by opening Britain’s borders to the entire world.”

 

The plan to relax rules for NHS staff comes after Britain said in August it would relax immigration rules to attract more scientists.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-11-08

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What a brilliant idea. 

First chase East Europeans out of the country and then invite people from Afghanistan, Syria, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia or other interesting and interested countries...... ????

Good job BJ

????

The government have been behind a concerted overseas recruitment campaign for some considerable time, trying to attract doctors and nurses to the UK. At the moment we are losing ones we have, most are EU citizens worried about their position after Brexit.

 

They are already fast tracked through the immigration system so this is just Boris electioneering.

1 minute ago, dunroaming said:

The government have been behind a concerted overseas recruitment campaign for some considerable time, trying to attract doctors and nurses to the UK. At the moment we are losing ones we have, most are EU citizens worried about their position after Brexit.

 

They are already fast tracked through the immigration system so this is just Boris electioneering.

I think the funniest moment yesterday was when Boris praised the people of Northern Ireland saying they had a fantastic deal because they remained with access to the single market with free movement of people whereas the rest of Britain will lose that.   Not only that but they would not have to fill in any paperwork whatsoever!

 

What an absolute moron!  Lie after lie after lie, just how stupid does he think we all are?

I guess targeting recruitment campaigns at the denizens of  ‘Wetherspoons’ failed then.

2 hours ago, sawadee1947 said:

What a brilliant idea. 

First chase East Europeans out of the country and then invite people from Afghanistan, Syria, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia or other interesting and interested countries...... ????

Good job BJ

????

A bit OTT and way off the mark and also the kind of bile spouted by project fear....you'll find it will be qualified staff from NZ, Aus etc....besides the Eastern Europeans already employed are protected under the current agreement put forward. What's more worrying and what has been happening for 30 years and more is the lack of investment in training for UK nationals....there in lies the real problem.

2 hours ago, sawadee1947 said:

What a brilliant idea. 

First chase East Europeans out of the country and then invite people from Afghanistan, Syria, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia or other interesting and interested countries...... ????

Good job BJ

????

 

That's rubbish. Anyone coming to work for the NHS must obtain a visa. Not only are their educational and experiences verified, but their ability to speak and communicate in English is. They aren't talking about scrapping that, but fast tracking it.

 

Now Corbyn on the other hand - he wants to scrap all immigration controls. So yes, if he is PM and does that, people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, the Middle East, SEA and Africa will flood in. As will Eastern European criminal elements to join those already established in the UK. Well thought out Jeremy!

10 minutes ago, baansgr said:

A bit OTT and way off the mark and also the kind of bile spouted by project fear....you'll find it will be qualified staff from NZ, Aus etc....besides the Eastern Europeans already employed are protected under the current agreement put forward. What's more worrying and what has been happening for 30 years and more is the lack of investment in training for UK nationals....there in lies the real problem.

Recruitment campaign is focussed on the Philippines (as always), Africa and India.  It is true that more needs to be done on training in the UK but there is a problem getting student nurses to sign up because the pay is <deleted>, the hours are long and nurses are treated abysmally.

5 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

That's rubbish. Anyone coming to work for the NHS must obtain a visa. Not only are their educational and experiences verified, but their ability to speak and communicate in English is. They aren't talking about scrapping that, but fast tracking it.

 

Now Corbyn on the other hand - he wants to scrap all immigration controls. So yes, if he is PM and does that, people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, the Middle East, SEA and Africa will flood in. As will Eastern European criminal elements to join those already established in the UK. Well thought out Jeremy!

Once again you trot out your accusation that Corbyn wants to scrap all immigration controls.

 

Once again I ask, please provide a link to back up this assignment yours.

2 hours ago, rhyddid said:

Running and rushing to end of UK ! Well done Brexiters !

No running away from Unelected People who cannot be sacked or reprimanded, who make Laws for 500 million people in secret.

The UK ???? Fast track anything ??? 

 

The only thing fast tracked there is increasing bureaucracy.

 

For somebody's convenience of course.

8 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

That's rubbish. Anyone coming to work for the NHS must obtain a visa. Not only are their educational and experiences verified, but their ability to speak and communicate in English is. They aren't talking about scrapping that, but fast tracking it.

 

Now Corbyn on the other hand - he wants to scrap all immigration controls. So yes, if he is PM and does that, people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, the Middle East, SEA and Africa will flood in. As will Eastern European criminal elements to join those already established in the UK. Well thought out Jeremy!

Better an honest Jeremy than a cheating Boris. 

Just now, sawadee1947 said:

only are their educational and experiences verified

Sure you can buy everything in Thailand..... 

Don't expect any good from Boris. Not even the promise to vanish in a ditch he can fulfill. ????

15 hours ago, dunroaming said:

Recruitment campaign is focussed on the Philippines (as always), Africa and India.  It is true that more needs to be done on training in the UK but there is a problem getting student nurses to sign up because the pay is <deleted>, the hours are long and nurses are treated abysmally.

Getting rid of nursing bursaries didn't exactly help either . Typical Tories trying to save a few bucks  only to have to spend more later to sort out the problems they caused. 

Fastest track still seems to be in a dingy or out of the back of a lorry, virtually no chance of being sent back!