The Boris Johnson-led UK's Conservative Party promised to make it easier and cheaper for medical professionals from countries like Bangladesh to be able to address shortages in the UK’s state-funded National Health Service (NHS) with a new fast-track visa.
The so-called NHS Visa will be part of a new Points-Based Immigration System (PBIS), which the Conservative Party government plans to introduce if it is voted to power in the December 12 General Election. The main features of such a new visa would be a halving of fees and a quicker processing time of just two weeks for qualified doctors and nurses.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "I want the NHS to offer each and every one of us the best care in the world, and so as well as expanding training at home, I want to attract the very best talent in the world to our NHS too.
"From its inception the NHS has recruited globally. This new visa will make it easier for us to hire the finest doctors and nurses from other nations to come and work in the NHS — so that patients can receive the best possible care. It’s all part of our long-term plan to ensure the NHS is always there for you in your moment of need.”
The features of the proposed NHS Visa will include fees halved from GBP 928 currently to GBP 464; a fast-track process for applicants with a guaranteed decision within two weeks; preferential treatment in the the new system with extra points awarded for anyone coming to work in the NHS; and payment support in the form of applicants being able to pay back the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) via their salary.
“These measures are part of our plan for an Australian-style points-based immigration system that allows us to control numbers while remaining open to vital professions like nurses,” said Priti Patel, UK home secretary.
“That means the best of both worlds – attracting talent from around the world so our NHS continues to provide brilliant service while ensuring that it isn’t put under strain by opening Britain’s borders to the entire world,” she said.
Johnson had announced plans for an Australian-style points based immigration system in his maiden speech as British Prime Minister in July, saying the UK would put it in place once it leaves the European Union (EU) and is free of the EU freedom of movement rules.
All ministers are now on the campaign trail and in the process of making announcements to influence voters in the snap election next month, called by Johnson in an attempt to win a majority for his Conservative Party to get his Brexit deal through a divided Parliament.
However, the Opposition Labour Party attacked the lack of detail around the new immigration system proposed by the Tories.
The party's shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, said the policy is "full of holes", with nothing to say about the nurses earning below their income threshold, as well as all the cooks, cleaners, hospital porters and others who are vital to hospitals, and nothing at all about their right to bring family members here.