A renowned radiologist who trained at Liverpool hospitals years after escaping war-torn Afghanistan as a boy has slammed proposals by wannabe NHS boss Dido Harding to end England’s reliance on foreign doctors.
The Tory peer, who hopes to succeed Sir Simon Stevens, is believed to want to challenge the “prevailing orthodoxy” in government that it is " better to import medical professionals from overseas."
But her views have caused controversy and prompted Dr Waheed Arian to speak out, dismissing her standpoint as a "bad idea."
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The medic was presented with the UN Global Hero award in 2017 by now Home Secretary Priti Patel.
He has also criticised her New Plan for Immigration, which would make a person arriving in the UK via an irregular route, such as via lorry or boat, or using a false passport, as illegal and deported, even if they have been fleeing conflict.
Mr Arian, who was a junior doctor at the Royal Liverpool and Aintree Hospitals from 2014-17, and now lives in Chester with his wife and two children, fled for Pakistan with his family to escape the fighting in the Soviet-Afghan conflict.
They made a hazardous seven day mountain crossing, almost being killed in a rocket attack, and lived with nine other family members in one room with no running water of electricity.
Now 37, he contracted tuberculosis and malaria and, when aged 15, was sent by his parents to the UK to stay with a distant family friend.
Today, he has several international awards, founded a telemedicine charity called Arian Teleheal, and speaks as an expert in global health.
He told the ECHO: "I came to the UK aged 15 as a refugee, I'm a proud British citizen now.
"We respect everyone's expertise, professionalism and friendliness...Covid really brought that out.
"Harding's proposals are a bad idea.
"There's nothing wrong with increasing capacity in the NHS, but it's not mutually exclusive.
"We can still have brilliant international doctors and increase capacity at medical schools here.
"The NHS wouldn't survive without foreign workers. There's a huge amount of immigrants working in the NHS.
"I got Covid while working on the frontline, and after three weeks I came back.
"It's that solidarity which is deep in our hearts regardless of who we are or where we come from."
Speaking of Patel's new immigration, plan, Mr Arian added: "I have received tremendous compassion and kindness here in the UK.
"Because of that kindness, I found safety. I was able to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor and serving in the NHS in the fight against the pandemic.
“But there are many others like me, with their own hopes and dreams, who are also in need of protection.
"The New Plan for Immigration will strip away their chance at safety in the UK.
"I’m standing with Freedom from Torture and the Together with Refugees coalition to call for a stop these new proposals and to create an asylum system that reflects our values of kindness and compassion.”
Mr Arian also praised “the kindness of Scousers” for helping him overcome PTSD caused by seeing rocket attacks and bombings as a child, which resulted in panic attacks and anxiety.
He said: “PTSD takes a terrible toll on people and there is no cure.
"You can learn to manage it, but what works for one person may not work for another.
"For me, the key thing was to help others - I found that working as a doctor and then helping others through our charity has helped me cope.
“When I first moved up to Liverpool from London, I was given such a warm welcome from everyone I met.
"I loved the city from the first day I arrived.
"I set up my charity Arian Teleheal when I was working at Aintree University Hospital and everyone simply wanted to help, either by volunteering if they could, or by suggesting people who might assist me.
"The kindness of Scousers is well-known, and has made a massive impact on my life and my recovery from PTSD.”
Dr Arian’s bestselling autobiography, In The Wars, was published by Penguin in June.
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