Work visa delays hurting NHS, say doctors groups

by NADEEM BADSHAH

MINISTERS have been criticised by top doctors after it emerged that overseas medics are not being able to start work in the NHS due to visa delays.

Dozens of doctors have voiced their concern, with some warning that it will lead to staff shortages and potential risks to patients.Surgeons, GPs and consultants coming from outside the Europe- an Union cannot apply for a work visa until they have a “certificate of

sponsorship”. Applicants have to secure a biometric residence permit through a process run by private companies.

In one case, a doctor said she received key documents a week after she was meant to start her job.

Dr Ramesh Mehta, president of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), told Eastern Eye: “Over the years, the Home Office have never got their act together.

“It is unbelievable that while there is a huge shortage of doctors and nurses in the NHS, the bureaucracy in the Home Office is unable to react appropriately.

“The health surcharge for the taxpaying doctors is also unacceptable. BAPIO has raised this

issue with the minster at the Home Office”.

Many doctors started jobs or switched to new roles in August, and paid £500 for a more expensive fast-track visa to start work on time because of the long waiting period. But some were told there was a “technical problem” with their documents.

Doctors also have to pay the £400-a-year immigration health surcharge to use the NHS as

non-EU migrants.

Campaigners want the fast-track fees to be refunded, and for medics to be exempt from the NHS surcharge.

Dr Terry John, chair of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) international committee, told

Eastern Eye: “The health service relies heavily on its overseas workforce to help keep hospitals across the country running. The BMA has previously raised concerns over the costly, overly burdensome and inflexible immigration system.

“At a time when hospitals and GP surgeries are already struggling to recruit enough doctors, it is crucial that we do not create obstacles preventing staff from coming to work in our NHS.

“The government must do all it can to remove needless bureaucratic barriers to recruitment, so that those who want to work in the health services, and are appropriately qualified, are able to do so.”

The news comes as NHS hospitals are offering cash to doctors in a bid to tackle a staffing crisis over pension regulations.

New rules mean GPs and consultants can be hit with tax rates of more than 90 per cent on their earnings – including their pension contributions – if they earn more than £110,000 a year.

It has led to some consultants reducing their overtime or weekend work as they can be taxed thousands of pounds for earning money over the threshold.

Prime minister Boris Johnson has promised to “fix” the problem, with the Treasury to review the rules affecting high earners, and changes to be introduced from April next year.

But an investigation by the British Medical Journal reveals that 16 NHS trusts have offered GPs and consultants the chance to opt out of their NHS pension and instead receive extra cash sums, equivalent to their employer’s pension fund contributions.

Amjad Malik, an immigration solicitor in northwest England, said, “Working visas are delayed for no apparent reason.”

He added: “Additional costs, especially £500 extra for priority service visas when the original fee is paid, and different regional slots for biometrics, is causing hardship, especially for doctors and nurses from the Indian subcontinent.

“I would ask the prime minister and, in particular, home secretary Priti Patel to overhaul the Tier 2 system once for all. Non-EU migrant workers must not be punished but welcomed, facilitated and visa fees must be cut in half if they hail from a shortage category.

“All international student doctors and nurses, upon completion of their degrees, must be given post-study work visas of five years to control the shortage post Brexit.

“If attention is not given post Brexit, this issue is going to halt NHS service delivery due to visa delays, the lack of a one-window service and unaffordable costs.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are committed to providing a world-class service to everyone using our visa systems. The latest immigration figures show a 62 per cent increase in applications to the health and social work sector – demonstrating that the UK is continuing to attract doctors, nurses and other health professionals.”