MAY ‘BLOCKED NHS TAKING ON FOREIGN DOCS’
THERESA May was embroiled in a “toxic” immigration scandal over claims she blocked the NHS from hiring overseas doctors.
The PM was already facing enormous pressure over the Windrush fiasco and her “hostile environment” immigration strategy.
Now it is reported she overruled ministers who begged for more foreign medics to tackle the staffing crisis. Jeremy Hunt, Greg Clark and Amber Rudd – who resigned on Sunday – had all urged the PM to temporarily lift visa quotas.
The PM’s hardline stance over visa rules is preventing the NHS from recruiting doctors, experts warned.
Several hospitals have said patient safety is being put at risk by medic shortages. There have been at least 400 cases of blocked visas since December. But a Whitehall source said Mrs May “absolutely refused to budge” when asked to lift the cap.
Health Secretary Mr Hunt and former Home Secretary Ms Rudd urged Mrs May to lift the quota for special cases, such as NHS doctors.
And Business Secretary Mr Clark pressed the PM for more exceptions to help firms cope with specialist skills shortages. SNP Home Affairs spokeswoman Joanna Cherry said: “Theresa May’s toxic anti-immigrant obsession is actively damaging the UK by getting in the way of the vital needs of our public services and businesses.” Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said: “This is where Theresa May’s hostile environment leads. [It] is not confined to illegal immigrants.” The NHS Confederation said seven London trusts reported 53 doctors had been denied visas. And 30 health trusts in the North West have demanded 100 doctors from India be allowed to work.