Coronavirus: Calls for better treatment of foreign NHS staff
Foreign-born NHS staff are heavily represented in COVID-19 deaths but, despite their courage, they have to pay for their care.
Monday 13 April 2020 10:00, UK
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said how much he admires NHS staff from overseas as calls grow for the immigration system to treat them more kindly.
People born overseas make up a quarter of staff in UK hospitals, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.
But they have accounted for a "disproportionate" number of deaths from COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, Mr Hancock said on Sunday.
Mr Hancock told the daily coronavirus news conference: "Yesterday I highlighted the fact that, tragically, a disproportionate number of those in the NHS that have died are people who came to make their lives here and work in the NHS and have given their lives working in the NHS, and I pay tribute to them.
"I think it's fair to say that my admiration for those who work in the NHS, whether they come from overseas or were born here, it doesn't matter, my admiration is unparalleled."
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It comes after the chair of the British Medical Association called on Home Secretary Priti Patel to give all foreign doctors indefinite leave to remain.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chairman, wrote to Ms Patel to remind her that many healthcare staff from overseas must pay a surcharge for their own healthcare when they apply for or extend their visas.
He added: "It is unfair to expect doctors currently outside of the UK who are willing to come to help in the crisis and other international doctors and healthcare workers already in the UK, who are prepared to risk their lives while providing care in the NHS, to pay for that care should they themselves need it."
Dr Nagpaul has also called for the government to allow medical students and healthcare workers to be able to change employers without needing another visa.
According to a parliamentary report from July 2019, around 13.1% of NHS staff are non-British. Between them, these staff hold 200 different nationalities.
The government has already said doctors, nurses and other health workers from overseas will be able to extend their visa for a year without charge, to keep them in the UK during the pandemic response.
This would apply to around 2,800 people in the NHS who have visas due to expire before 1 October.