Migrant workers have been essential to the operations of the NHS ever since its inception in 1948. Over the decades, many programmes have been used to encourage and find overseas workers and…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqZm9kzlIZU DAUK's Dr Vinesh Patel on residency delays stopping migrant medics from working: "Surely at a time of the pandemic, the question we should be asking is can we invest…
Frontline NHS workers are at the coal face of the escalating second wave of COVID-19. We are seeing the problems on the ground that are hindering the country moving forward. We need Parliament to listen so action can be taken As part of our #ProtectTheFrontline campaign DAUK is holding an urgent MP briefing to ensure parliamentarians are well versed in the issues facing the NHS, and to garner much needed public support to improve things as fast as possible on a national scale.
Frontline NHS workers are at the coal face of the escalating second wave of COVID-19. We are seeing the problems on the ground that are hindering the country moving forward. We need Parliament to listen so action can be taken As part of our #ProtectTheFrontline campaign DAUK is holding an urgent MP briefing to ensure parliamentarians are well versed in the issues facing the NHS, and to garner much needed public support to improve things as fast as possible on a national scale.
Doctors from overseas are to have their immigration health surcharges refunded, it has been announced.The new scheme applies to staff who have worked in the NHS since the end of March, rewarding those who worked through the pandemic.Many doctors have had their charges paid by their employers.
The news was welcomed by the Doctors’ Association UK. Chair Dr Rinesh Parmar said: “The government has stopped short of granting a route towards indefinite leave to remain and citizenship to those who have served and continue to serve our health and social care system in its time of greatest need.“I urge the Home Secretary to think again, to right the wrongs and missteps of previous years and recognise the dedication and contribution of migrant workers in health and social care.”
Morale has been "decimated" by the government's refusal to remove the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), at a time when overseas healthcare workers are working harder than ever in our NHS.
"Dr Samantha Batt-Rawden, president of the Doctors' Association UK said: “The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for NHS workers is a cruel and unnecessary policy which must be scrapped. These surcharges, which run into the thousands for a family of four, can be crippling for frontline NHS workers. Doctors from overseas have told us that this policy has made them feel unwelcome in the UK. The fact that the charge has been increased even further during the Covid pandemic has decimated morale amongst our overseas workforce.“
”We were grateful to Sir Keir Starmer for reading out our letter to the Home Office at PMQs today and would welcome an amendment to the Immigration Bill to exempt NHS healthcare workers from the surcharge.” "
"The Prime Minister will not relent on the levy of health surcharges on NHS and care workers from overseas, he said yesterday.
Mr Johnson's comments angered medical organisations, who have been pressing for improved recognition of the commitment of overseas health and care workers.
Pressed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Johnson said: "I have thought a great deal about this, and I accept and understand the difficulties faced by our amazing NHS staff. I have been a personal beneficiary of carers who have come from abroad and frankly saved my life. I know exactly the importance of what he asks. On the other hand, we must look at the realities.
"This is a great national service—it is a national institution—that needs funding, and those contributions help us to raise about £900 million. It is very difficult in the current circumstances to find alternative sources."
Sir Keir said that a careworker, on the national living wage, would have to work 70 hours to pay the new surcharge rate of £624 a year, citing the Doctors' Association and other medical groups.
Doctors' Association president Dr Samantha Batt-Rawden said: "We know that BAME healthcare workers are at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19, yet our dedicated colleagues from overseas contribute to put their lives on the line to serve the NHS. The smallest recognition of this selfless act would be to scrap the surcharge for NHS and social care workers."
