04.11.10
Government must rethink immigration cap, says BMA
The Government needs to rethink its plans to introduce an annual cap on immigration to take into account the impact these changes will have of the NHS, according to the BMA.
“The UK relies on doctors from outside the EU to fully staff the NHS,” said Dr Terry John, Chairman of the BMA’s International Committee.
“The interim cap on skilled migration has already made it more difficult for employers to secure sufficient sponsorship certificates to meet their workforce needs. The imposition of a permanent cap is likely to make the problem worse.
“We are particularly concerned that international graduates from UK medical schools may be unable to continue training. It is estimated that around 500 international medical students graduate from UK medical schools each year. These doctors are already factored into workforce planning and it would be a huge loss to the NHS if they were not able to work in the UK. “
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