UK now relies more on foreign medics
The Straits Times/ ANN, London
Britain's growing dependence on foreign workers to keep its ailing National Health Service (NHS) afloat is illustrated by new figures showing that a record 44,443 health workers were signed on last year from outside the European Union (EU).This was a staggering 27-fold increase on the number of overseas medics issued with work permits just a decade ago, and the figure is expected to continue to rise steeply. Amid fears that immigrants from 10 new EU nations will soon be plundering jobs in Britain, organisations representing doctors, nurses and patients - as well as the government - all told The Straits Times that without foreign health-care workers, the NHS would be in chaos. Home Office figures just released show that last year, Britain 'imported' 27,171 nurses, 9,290 hospital consultants and 2,947 doctors. Work permits were also granted to 409 pharmacists, 389 physiotherapists, 384 radiogr-aphers, 201 dental surgeons, 189 psychiatrists and 208 social workers from overseas nations outside the EU. Most of the nurses came from the Philippines - 12,000 of them, while over 9,000 were from India and 5,800 from South Africa. A total of 1,068 nurses came to Britain from China last year, but that figure could quadruple during the next 12 months as dozens of hospitals send recruiting teams to Beijing, Shanghai and other big cities and towns. Many hospitals will offer English classes to Chinese nursing recruits who want or need language lessons. Virtually every hospital in Britain is short of nurses, doctors, therapists and other medics. British O-level, A-level and university students are reluctant to enter the medical profession because of the comparative low pay and long working hours in the NHS, with many hospitals situated in crime-ridden, run-down areas of the country. The British Medical Assoc-iation told The Straits Times: 'Overseas doctors are playing a vital role in our NHS. Without them, many hospitals would have to close. 'But we still need 10,000 more general practitioners and 10,000 more consultants.' Dr Shiv Pande of the British International Doctors' Assoc-iation said: 'Britain is dependent on foreign health-care professionals and that situation will continue for many years. 'Without them, some hospitals would be on their deathbeds.' Health Minister John Reid this week launched a £4-million (S$12.6-million) recruitment drive for doctor and nurse trainees, saying: 'We want more British-born staff, but we realise that for many years we will have to rely on huge numbers of overseas recruits.'
| 
