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Tory MP backs Labour call to scrap NHS fees for migrant health staff Tory MP backs Labour call to scrap NHS fees for migrant health staff
(32 minutes later)
William Wragg urges Boris Johnson to show ‘generosity of spirit’ to healthcare workersWilliam Wragg urges Boris Johnson to show ‘generosity of spirit’ to healthcare workers
A leading Conservative MP has supported the Labour party’s call to scrap the fees some overseas health workers are charged to use the NHS.A leading Conservative MP has supported the Labour party’s call to scrap the fees some overseas health workers are charged to use the NHS.
The chair of the public administration and constitutional affairs committee, William Wragg, said “now is the time for a generosity of spirit towards those who have done so much good”.The chair of the public administration and constitutional affairs committee, William Wragg, said “now is the time for a generosity of spirit towards those who have done so much good”.
Wragg said he was “sure” his Tory colleagues would be supportive of his stance.Wragg said he was “sure” his Tory colleagues would be supportive of his stance.
Politicians and healthcare workers have called on the government to scrap the NHS surcharge for migrant care workers coming from outside the European Economic Area. The current surcharge is £400 per year and it is expected to rise to £624 in October.Politicians and healthcare workers have called on the government to scrap the NHS surcharge for migrant care workers coming from outside the European Economic Area. The current surcharge is £400 per year and it is expected to rise to £624 in October.
The Home Office minister, James Brokenshire, said on Thursday that the government would keep the policy “under review” but that it was important to keep what he described as a “sense of contribution to the NHS” from migrant workers.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that it was difficult to scrap the charge for those working in social care as they were not tied to a specific NHS Trust and would have “disparate” levels of leave to remain in the UK.
He said: “I’m just saying that it is complicated. We continue to keep this under review but the principle of the NHS surcharge, the support that it provides financially to the NHS, and indeed that sense of contribution to the NHS, I think is important, and the Prime Minister I think was right to underline that what he said yesterday.”
Brokenshire said the surcharge was “there to provide funding for the NHS and the basic principle that if you come to this country, that you are working, that you’ve made that contribution”.
Labour, the Scottish National party and the Royal College of Nursing want health workers to be exempt from the “unfair” charge.Labour, the Scottish National party and the Royal College of Nursing want health workers to be exempt from the “unfair” charge.
The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said a care worker on the national living wage would have to work for 70 hours to pay off the fee.The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said a care worker on the national living wage would have to work for 70 hours to pay off the fee.
“Every Thursday we go out and clap for our carers. Many of them are risking their lives for the sake of all of us,” he said at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday.“Every Thursday we go out and clap for our carers. Many of them are risking their lives for the sake of all of us,” he said at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday.
“Does the prime minister think it is right that care workers coming from abroad and working on our frontline should have to pay a surcharge of hundreds – sometimes thousands of pounds – to use the NHS themselves?”“Does the prime minister think it is right that care workers coming from abroad and working on our frontline should have to pay a surcharge of hundreds – sometimes thousands of pounds – to use the NHS themselves?”
But Boris Johnson rejected the calls. He told MPs that he could not afford to scrap the charges in the current climate.But Boris Johnson rejected the calls. He told MPs that he could not afford to scrap the charges in the current climate.
He said he had “thought a great deal” about this issue after his experience of being cared for by nurses from overseas when he was in intensive care with coronavirus.He said he had “thought a great deal” about this issue after his experience of being cared for by nurses from overseas when he was in intensive care with coronavirus.
Johnson told Starmer: “I do accept and understand the difficulties faced by our amazing NHS staff and, like him, I’ve been a personal beneficiary of carers who have come from abroad and, frankly, saved my life.Johnson told Starmer: “I do accept and understand the difficulties faced by our amazing NHS staff and, like him, I’ve been a personal beneficiary of carers who have come from abroad and, frankly, saved my life.
“On the other hand, we must look at the realities: this is a great national service, it’s a national institution, it needs funding and those contributions actually help us to raise about £900m, and it’s very difficult in the current circumstances to find alternative sources.“On the other hand, we must look at the realities: this is a great national service, it’s a national institution, it needs funding and those contributions actually help us to raise about £900m, and it’s very difficult in the current circumstances to find alternative sources.
“So with great respect to the point Sir Keir makes, I do think that is the right way forward.”“So with great respect to the point Sir Keir makes, I do think that is the right way forward.”