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Migrant workers critical to NHS continuity say experts (29 January 2014)
Date: 29/01/2014
Migrant workers are vital to the continuity of the NHS and a reduction in their numbers would leave the healthcare system 'short-staffed', according to new statistics and analysis by experts.
The figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show that more than 25 per cent of doctors and 14 per cent of professionally qualified clinical staff in the UK are classed as non-British. In total, the NHS and community health services sector is made up of 11 per cent of workers born overseas.
A BMA spokesperson said: “Overseas doctors have for many years made a valuable and important contribution to the NHS, especially in key services where there has been a historic shortage of UK-trained doctors.” She added that the NHS policy of actively encouraging skilled doctors to move to the UK has ensured that patients continue to receive effective care.
Tim Finch, care services expert and part of the Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank, also reiterated the importance of attracting skilled non-British workers as the government continues to look at measures of cutting immigration numbers. He said: “If the single thread of immigration policy is just to get the overall figure down by any means, you've got to look at the consequences of that on the NHS.”
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