BREXIT CARE WORKER CRISIS LOOMS

A NEW Brexit immigration system that would prevent thousands of foreign care workers coming to Britain has been branded a “disastrous mistake” that will add to the crisis in social care.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has sparked fury by excluding care workers from a fast-track “health and care” visa.

Under the points-based system, the UK will close its borders to lower-paid workers or

BY TORCUIL CRICHTON those who cannot speak English after the country leaves the EU.

The rules include a fast-track entry scheme under what is called a “health and care visa”. But despite the name, the list of professions who can use the visa does not cover care staff.

Charities and community groups also fear the new pointsbased immigration system – designed to cut the number of low-skilled migrants entering

Britain from January 2021 – will also exclude lowly-paid NHS cleaners, porters and support staff.

Patel said it would encourage employers to invest in workers from within the UK. She believes the points system would “attract the best and brightest from around the world”.

Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Nick ThomasSymonds said: “To exclude care workers from the health visa is a clear signal this Government does not appreciate the skill and dedication these roles involve.”

Stuart McDonald MP, the SNP immigration spokesman, said the visa was a “con-trick” if it excluded social care workers, NHS healthcare assistants and porters. He added: “This pretend points-based system will see families split apart, businesses drowned in red tape and unable to recruit, and EU citizens stripped of their rights.”