Immigration Solicitors

The president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has said that as it stands 25% of NHS doctors are from overseas and the government, the NHS and the public need to value and support all NHS staff, wherever they are from.

Professor Jane Dacre was responding to a British Medical Association (BMA) survey of European doctors. She said that the NHS had benefited from the talents, abilities and commitment to working in the UK of EEA doctors and they must be supported, despite the insecurity caused by Brexit.

The BMA survey found that around 10,000 doctors working in the NHS across the UK qualified in other EEA countries – with “many more” working in public health and academic medicine.

Prof Dacre added that the NHS in Scotland was facing ongoing medical recruitment and retention difficulties – any substantial loss of EEA doctors would make these problems significantly worse:

“Diseases know no country borders and medicine is an international profession, with global cooperation in research, drug development, standards of patient care and free movement of doctors around the world. This model has served the UK and the NHS well for decades – moving away from that model is a major risk to the success of the NHS,” she said. The survey of 1,193 EEA doctors found that more than four out of ten (42%) were considering leaving the UK following the referendum vote, with a further quarter (23%) “unsure”.

On a scale of one to ten, European doctors stated they felt “substantially less appreciated” by the UK government in light of the EU referendum result – the average rating dropped from seven out of ten before the referendum, to less than four after the referendum.

European doctors also stated they felt “significantly less committed” to working in the UK in light of the EU referendum result – from an average rating of nine out of ten before the referendum, commitment dropped to an average of six out of ten after the result.

However, European doctors said they felt “highly appreciated” by patients before the EU referendum result and this continued to be the case.

Chair of the BMA in Scotland, Dr Peter Bennie said:

“This survey should set alarm bells ringing in government. It shows just how much damage is being done by the needless and continuing uncertainty over the future status of European doctors who already work in our NHS. The refusal of the Westminster government to guarantee their right to continue contributing to our health service is understandably causing a significant number of European doctors to consider leaving the UK, regardless of what future agreement is reached.”

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors are one of the UK’s leading firms of immigration specialists and are able to advise on business immigration and right to work in the UK, Tier-2 visa applications and appeals, student and graduate visas, spousal visas and visa overstays.

Duncan Lewis immigration lawyers can also advice on illegal entry to the UK, the Modern Slavery Bill, and UK immigration law and the Human Rights Act.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities, including more than 20 offices across London and the southeast.

We are able to advise on asylum applications and appeals, including appeals against deportation and immigration detention issues under the Human Rights Act.

For expert legal advice on UK business immigration or UK immigration law, call Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

For urgent legal advice on immigration detention, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607, where an accredited immigration lawyer is available