Doctors today urged Theresa May to rethink her opposition to granting visas to foreign doctors offered jobs by London hospitals trying to fill vacancies.
Today the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians warned the approach risked patient safety and would further damage morale after the NHS contended with its toughest winter.
BMA council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “At a time when the NHS is under enormous strain and struggling to fill positions, the current visa restrictions and arbitrary caps for non-EEA (European Economic Area) workers entering the UK are inexplicable and threatening patient care and safety.”
Professor Jane Dacre, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: “As stretched doctors go above and beyond, news Theresa May vetoed increasing the number of visas available to NHS doctors is deeply disappointing.
Labour MP Chuka Umunna said Mrs May’s opposition was “scandalous”.
Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth said: “It makes no sense whatsoever that the Government is turning away trained doctors who want to come and work here in the UK.”
