The government is working on plans to hire thousands of foreign workers from countries like India and the Philippines to fill employment gaps in the health and social care sector, according to reports.
Recruits are expected to be brought abroad on a “large scale” as the health services struggle to fill vacancies.
Nurses and other health workers are needed before winter, when services will be under greater pressure. Steve Barclay, the health secretary, has directed an international task force to help make this happen, according to times.
Papers related to the new crackdown on foreign workers, seen by the newspaper, said ministers had decided “international recruitment” was a solution to the staffing shortage.
source said times That the healthcare visa could be used to bring in employees to fill some of the 160,000 vacancies.
“Ensuring that the NHS and Care have enough staff to handle a difficult winter is an absolute priority and finding ways to increase international recruitment, including through Health Visa and Assistance, is an essential part of that,” they said.
“We are open to any ideas for help, including an online support center, but we need to make sure it works, and we need to do it now to build capacity before winter.”
Post-Brexit immigration rules requested and enforced by the British government have made it more complex and costly for European healthcare professionals to move to the UK.
The problem is compounded by a drop in nursing courses admission this year, which unions have warned will exacerbate the health and social care staff crisis.
The president of the Royal College of Nursing, Pat Cullen, said figures released by Ocas University on Thursday, which show 1,560 fewer students accepted into courses than in 2021, point to a “wrong trend”.
RCN said there were 21,130 applicants accepted into nursing courses this year compared to 22,690 last year.
A debit report last month found that an ongoing staff shortage in the NHS creates a serious risk to patient safety.
The multi-party Health and Social Care Commission said England’s health and social care services were facing “the biggest workforce crisis in their history” and that the government had no credible strategy to improve the situation.
Projections indicate that 475,000 additional health jobs and 490,000 additional social care jobs will be needed at the beginning of the next decade.
Earlier on Thursday, Education Secretary James Cleverly told BBC Radio 4 today The programme: “The NHS has always relied heavily on medical professionals from abroad, and I doubt that will change at any time in my life.
“We are hiring more doctors and nurses, and training more local medical talent.”
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.