04.06.18
Javid ‘can see problem’ with tier 2 visa cap
The tier 2 visa cap which has led to overseas doctors being denied visas to work in the UK is to be revised, home secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed.
Last week, NHE reported that little progress had been made on the relation of visa rules introduced when Theresa May was home secretary in 2011, with the BMJ claiming that over 1,500 visa applications from doctors with job offers in the UK were refused between December 2017 and March 2018.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Javid said that he could see the problem with skilled workers not being issued with visas.
“It is something that I'm taking a fresh look at. I know a number of my colleagues certainly want me to take a look at this, and that's exactly what I'm doing.
“And I hope to think about this more carefully and see what can be done,” he said.
Responding to the home secretary’s comments, BMA council chair, Dr. Chaand Nagpaul, said that it is important that Javid acts swiftly with a practical solution in order for the NHS to recruit the several hundreds of available overseas doctors who can start work imminently, to ease the pressure in the NHS.
“The NHS could not survive without the vital contribution of overseas doctors, and it is vital that the government puts the needs of patients first by implementing a flexible immigration policy that allows us to employ the doctors needed to serve the health needs of the nation,” he added.
Top image: brazzo
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