DESPITE being among the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic, social care workers from overseas will not be eligible for the UK Government’s new post-Brexit health visas.

The move was described as an “utter slap in the face” by the head of Scottish Care.

The Government defended its position, saying it was because it wanted to try to encourage more UK-based workers into care jobs.

“We want employers to invest more in training and development for care workers in this country,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

Details of the new fast-track health and care visa were published yesterday, as the Home Office unveiled a paper on the points-based immigration system, which will kick in on January 1 next year when the UK’s transition period out of the EU ends. Only those classed as skilled workers – for example, doctors, nurses, radiographers, social workers, and paramedics – will be eligible for the visa.

Those applying for the health visa will also need to be coming to a job that pays at least £20,480 – substantially more than a beginning salary for a care worker.

In a written ministerial statement to the House of Commons, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “At a time where an increased number of people across the UK are looking for work, the new points-based system will encourage employers to invest in the domestic UK workforce, rather than simply relying on labour from abroad.

“But we are also making necessary changes, so it is simpler for employers to attract the best and brightest from around the world to come to the UK to complement the skills we already have.”

Donald Macaskill, the CEO of Scottish Care, tweeted: “What an utter slap in the face for the care sector from Priti Patel who thought care workers were low-skilled in February and clearly their Covid-19 professionalism hasn’t changed her mind. Shameful lack of value of social care.”

The SNP’s immigration spokesman at Westminster, Stuart McDonald, described it as a “con-trick”.

He added: “If this system had come into effect before coronavirus, we’d be at a standstill right now.

“It’s taken the Home Office four years to come up with a new immigration system – which they promised would work for the whole of the UK – and they basically decide to apply the existing policies for non-EEA citizens to EU citizens.

“This is despite the overwhelming input from devolved nations and businesses who have said this will not work for them.”

Caroline Abrahams from Age UK said it was a “care visa in name only. Care will scarcely benefit at all since the vast majority of care workforce roles are ineligible.”

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said the omission was “outrageous.”

He added: “Scotland could still be tackling Covid-19, and will certainly still be feeling its aftershocks, when these rules come into effect in January.

“If this glaring omission is not addressed urgently, we risk seriously undermining our ability not just to care for our elderly and those in need, but to tackle major public health emergencies like Covid-19.”

Under the new rules, anyone who wants to live and work in the UK will need to have at least 70 points.

They can achieve 50 points straight away if they have an offer of a job on a list of eligible occupations and can speak English.

Further points will be awarded based on qualifications and salary attached to the job offered.