A crisis governing the U.K. government over the implications of its tough immigration regime continued to spiral, amid revelations that hundreds of Indian doctors, who had been recruited to fill crucial gaps in National Health Service (NHS) roles had been unable to take up their duties after being denied their visas.
“We are aware of a few hundred doctors, the majority of whom would be Indian,” said, Dr. Ramesh Mehta of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin who had been aiding public body Health Education England in an initiative to bring doctors from the Indian subcontinent — particularly India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka — to fill roles particularly in shortage professions such as emergency medicine and care for the elderly.
‘Learn and return’
BAPIO had agreed to assisting the scheme on the understanding that it would be a “learn and return” programme, where the doctors would receive training during their time in the U.K. to ensure it was an experience as beneficial to them as possible, and that it did not lead to a brain-drain in India or any other country they were coming from. The system could have benefited both India — by helping doctors further develop their skills in emergency medicine, while at the same time helping Britain meet acute staffing shortages that have plagued many trusts.
“We are very keen to support the NHS and this is extremely disappointing,” said Dr. Mehta. “The Home Office has been absolutely bureaucratic and they are stopping these doctors from coming in. We are aware that Ministers are looking into it but don’t know why there is a delay.”
“These doctors are getting frustrated: they have jobs in India. Some are now saying they don’t want to come.”
The issue of visas for non-EU doctors has been simmering for a while now, as monthly quotas for Tier 2 visas — the main category for work visas in the U.K. — was repeatedly hit, triggering a system which gave preference to filling shortage or PHD level roles.
“NHS organisations have been unable to obtain the required permits for months for essential medical colleagues, and we have called on the government to urgently address this serious problem,” said Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers.
