NHS workers should be protected from curbs to free movement of people after Brexit, campaigners demand

NHS workers should be protected from any curbs to the free movement of people after Britain leaves the EU, politicians and health professionals have demanded.

The call, which comes from the Open Britain campaign, said that the health service should not be “hamstrung” in its hiring practices by a future work permits scheme, or by overall quotas on immigration.

Open Britain was set up by Britain Stronger in Europe who led the official Remain campaign during the EU referendum.

Cathy Warwick, the chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said her organisation has been calling on the Government to give clarity to EU nationals working in the NHS.

She added: “If hardworking midwives, maternity support workers and other NHS staff lose their EU working rights, our overstretched maternity services will also lose. The current midwifery shortage is already affecting the care women and their babies receive.”

The Royal College of Psychiatrists, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Royal College of Physicians joined Ms Warwick in her call.

Theresa May has refused to say whether EU migrants already living in Britain will be automatically allowed to remain after Brexit, despite mounting political pressure calling for her to give the assurance. The Prime Minister has said she will not give the assurance until other countries can guarantee the rights of British citizens living in EU countries.

But the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, has already signalled highly skilled workers will receive preferential treatment by suggesting expected restrictions on the free movement of people will not apply to them.

Anna Soubry, the former Tory cabinet minister, who has become a vocal critic of the Government’s Brexit strategy, said: “Our NHS wouldn’t be our NHS without the selfless work of thousands of EU nationals. Our NHS is not going to stop needing these people just because we’ve left the EU, so it’s vital NHS recruitment is not hampered by any new immigration system.”

Professor Sir Simon Wessely, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, added: “Without non-UK doctors, nurses, and care workers, the NHS would not have even existed. This remains true today, tomorrow and in twenty years’ time. It's not a problem but an asset.”

Professor Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine added: “The NHS is facing the greatest pressures in its history, with record numbers of staff vacancies in many areas. This is the worst possible time to be deterring health workers from the rest of the EU but we now have clear evidence that this is happening. However, the risk to social care is even greater and this will simply make things even worse for the NHS.”