SCOTLAND will stay open for foreign-born doctors despite Tory Government plans to push them out of the NHS in England, Holyrood’s Health Secretary said yesterday.

Shona Robison spoke out after Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed her government wants to replace medics from overseas with “British doctors”.

UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt outlined plans to train an additional 1,500 doctors every year to make NHS England “self-sufficient” within years.

He also revealed a new rule requiring all new doctors to work in the NHS for four years after graduation or face a £250,000 bill.

Around one quarter of doctors at English hospitals were trained overseas and May insisted the health service must have a “larger pool of British doctors” to draw from, indicating that they may lose their jobs when the interim period ends in the middle of the next decade.

She said: “There will be staff here from overseas in that interim period – until the further number of British doctors are able to be trained and come on board in terms of being able to work in our hospitals.

“We will ensure the numbers are there. But I think it’s right that we say we want to see more British doctors in our health service.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon hit out at the plan, tweeting: “The arrogance of this from UKG is breathtaking...like they’re somehow doing these doctors a favour by ‘allowing’ them to save lives here.”

Scottish Health Secretary Robison later laid bare her government’s commitment to the workers, stating: “These are irresponsible comments that will hamper NHS efforts to recruit doctors to vacancies and training places now. That in turn could have a real impact on patient care. As such, the UK Government’s position is short-sighted in the extreme.

“Medical professionals from outside this country have played a vital and valued part in our NHS for decades and continue to do so, and their contribution should not be dismissed in this way.

“In Scotland, we want the best and the brightest from around the world to stay, build their careers here and contribute to the economy and our society.”

Robison said an additional 50 medical student places have already been added to courses at Scottish universities.

However, she added: “It has also long been a common practice that young doctors go abroad to experience the different opportunities and challenges of health services across the world. We shouldn’t deprive them of these experiences, because the UK Government’s actions also risk shutting down such opportunities for our own young medics.”

The doctor plan was revealed as Home Secretary Amber Rudd unveiled radical measures to overhaul immigration.

This includes forcing companies to reveal how many “international” staff they employ and to prove they have made every effort to find a UK-born worker first.

Framing the plan as pro-migrant, Rudd said: “It’s only by reducing the numbers back down to sustainable levels that we can change the tide of public opinion, so once again immigration is something we can all welcome.”

Rudd told the Tory conference landlords could face jail for letting properties to people who do not have the necessary papers and taxi drivers will have to pass mandatory checks on their immigration status.

A review of the student visa regime will also be carried out to prevent applicants using education as an easy way into the UK. A £140 million “Controlling Migration Fund” will also be established to assist councils in England.

Rudd said the scheme was not about “pulling up the drawbridge”, but stated: “This government will not waver in its commitment to put the interests of the British people first. Reducing net migration back down to sustainable levels will not be easy. But I am committed to delivering it on behalf of the British people.”

The Government aims to reduce net immigration to tens of thousands every year. Figures revealed in August show non-EU immigration stands at 280,000 per year.

On requirements for workers, Rudd said: “The test should ensure people coming here are filling gaps in the labour market, not taking jobs British people could do.

“I want us to look again at whether our immigration system provides the right incentives for businesses to invest in British workers.”

Turning to students, she said: “Foreign students, even those studying English language degrees, don’t even have to be proficient in speaking English.

“We need to look at whether this one-size-fits-all approach really is right for the hundreds of different universities, providing thousands of different courses across the country.

“This isn’t about pulling up the drawbridge. It’s about making sure students that come here, come to study.”


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