MPs Question NHS's Plan to Cut Overseas Recruitment

0:00On March 6th, MPs are questioning the government's goal to slash international recruitment in England's National Health Service to just 10%. By 2035, a new report shows the health service has saved more than 14 billion pounds by hiring doctors, nurses, and midwives from abroad. The NHS relies heavily on these workers, with 36% of doctors and 24% of nurses and midwives trained overseas. While visa numbers for health professionals have dropped recently, experts say foreign staff will remain essential for years to come. This recruitment drains talent from countries already short on medical personnel, like those in Africa and Asia, where doctor numbers per person are. Far lower than in the UK, globally, a shortage of 11 million health workers looms by 2030. The report calls for a balanced approach, pairing UK hiring with investments to build up training in source countries, rather than just pulling staff. Away, it notes recent cuts to eight projects that supported health training abroad.

1:02Officials acknowledge the value of international talent, but stress prioritizing homegrown workers through better pay and training for UK graduates, aiming to ease pressure on both the NHS and global health systems.