Appeals to relax visa rules for doctors

DOCTORS HAVE described reports that Theresa May blocked requests from Cabinet Ministers to relax immigration rules to allow hundreds of skilled foreign doctors to work in NHS hospitals as “deeply concerning”.

The British Medical Association (BMA), alongside NHS Employers and 12 royal colleges, professional bodies and trade unions, called on new Home Secretary Sajid Javid to exclude doctors in shortage occupation roles from a cap on the number of Tier 2 visas given out to immigrants.

In a letter to Mr Javid, they warned that because the quota has been “unprecedently” reached for the fifth month in a row, willing and available overseas doctors are being prevented from providing services in an “overstretched NHS with more than 100,000 posts unfilled”.

Some hospital trusts are declaring that the cap is affecting patient safety, the letter said.

BMA council chair Chaan Nagpaul said: “Given that the Government has recognised the importance of a long-term solution to address the current workforce crisis in the NHS, the suggestion that the Prime Minister has blocked requests that would enable overseas doctors to practice in the NHS is deeply concerning.

He added: “At a time when the NHS is under enormous strain and struggling to fill positions, the current visa restrictions and arbitrary caps for non-EU workers entering the UK are...threatening patient care and safety.”