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29.05.18

Doctors continue to be refused roles under tier 2 visa cap

There has been “little or no progress” on the relaxation of visa rules to allow overseas doctors to work in the UK, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has argued.

Latest figures reveal that the monthly allocation of tier 2 visas are oversubscribed, meaning that overseas doctors could be being turned away from working in the UK.

Professor Jane Dacre, RCP president, said: “Six months on and these figures highlight the depressing reality of little to no progress on relaxing visa rules to allow overseas doctors to work in the UK.

“This is against the backdrop of an overstretched NHS and increasing numbers of vacancies across all key healthcare professions.”

Earlier this year, Dacre wrote to the prime minister and the home secretary to recommend excluding applications for shortage occupation roles from the allocation process to enable more doctors to be brought to the UK.

Last month, NHS bosses wrote to health secretary Jeremy Hunt to warn that capping the number of visas for skilled non-EU workers is hampering the recruitment of doctors, worsening rota gaps and patient waiting times.

Dacre added: “In the current climate of widespread workforce shortages, turning away doctors from the UK is a critical issue, and one we believe is of great detriment to maintaining safe patient care.

“On behalf of our members we will continue to press hard for a resolution.”

 

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