The Independent reports that experts, health leaders, and trade unions have rounded on the government’s new immigration policy warning it will be an “absolute disaster” for social care services and heap more pressure on the NHS.
The plan, unveiled by Home secretary Priti Patel, would lead to around 140,000 EU migrants being barred from entering the country. Despite promising to create an NHS visa to help the health service recruit staff from around the world, ministers have made no provision for social care. The government was warned back in November that excluding social care was “naive and deluded”.
As the government revealed details of its policy, healthcare experts united in their criticism and warned of serious consequences for thousands of elderly and vulnerable people.
Full story in The Independent, 19 February 2020