Jeremy Hunt has said he backs a special visa programme for foreign doctors, nurses and other specialties in short supply in the NHS, and will raise the idea with the new home secretary, Sajid Javid.
Speaking in the wake of the Windrush scandal, where the government knowingly threatened British citizens from the Commonwealth with deportation, the health and social care secretary suggested a short-term healthcare visa scheme would be helpful.
While he said it was important to “stay true to the desire of the British public to have controlled immigration policies” he added the government recognises the NHS will have to import healthcare workers for the foreseeable future.
Speaking in an interview with the Health Service Journal on Friday, Mr Hunt was asked whether a dedicated visa category for this group would be a solution.
“I think it is a really interesting idea. And it’s something I should probably raise with the new home secretary,” Mr Hunt said.
“The view of the government and the country is that we recognise we are going to need to import healthcare workers from overseas but that [the public] want it to be a short-term measure as we boost training numbers in our system, which we are now starting to do by quite significant levels”
“It is invidious when the NHS gets traded off against other sectors in the economy.
“We do have to make sure we stay true to the desire of the British public to have controlled immigration policies, so I don’t rule out that [a dedicated visa category] being part of discussions I have with Sajid.”
This comes after it was reported that Prime Minister Theresa May had personally vetoed requests by the Department of Health and Social Care calling for a relaxation of rules for health workers.
Hundreds of Indian doctors recruited by NHS trusts were unable to start work after the Home Office denied their visas, and watchdogs have warned thousands more are being deterred by the strict red tape.
The majority of British people now believe the Windrush scandal has shone a light on deeper problems in the immigration system.
Mr Javid’s predecessor Amber Rudd resigned last month after misleading MPs about deportation targets set by her department for illegal migrants.
