Visa restrictions on recruitment of foreign doctors and nurses relaxed

As predicted, doctors and nurses coming from abroad to work in the NHS will no longer be affected by the cap on so-called "Type 2" Visas.

This is a limit on the number of skilled workers from outside the EU who can be given Visas to come to the UK in any one year. When it was first introduced in 2011 ago the cap was rarely reached but recently it has been hit and one of the consequences has been to impede the recruitment of foreign doctors and nurses for the NHS, which has been a problem in many parts of the NHS including here in Cumbria.

Following lobbying from many parts of the country including a combined approach from all six MPs representing Cumbria, Home Secretary Sajid Javid agreed to look at the type 2 cap again and this week it has been announced that the government is changing the rules so that medical staff coming to work in the NHS will no longer be included in the cap.

This is great news which will make it easier to recruit the skilled professionals which hospitals like West Cumberland Hospital need.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid said:

"I recognise the pressures faced by the NHS and other sectors in recent months. Doctors and nurses play a vital role in society and at this time we need more in the UK. That is why I have reviewed our skilled worker visa route."

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt described the change as "excellent news."

Speaking at the NHS Confederation's annual conference in Manchester, he said that training places for doctors, nurses and midwives were up by 25%.

But he added: "In the period between now and when those training places convert into fully trained clinicians, the government should be flexible on visas. And that is why it is extremely welcome that today the prime minister has announced that doctors and nurses will be removed from the tier 2 visa caps."

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