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10,000 EU workers have left NHS since Brexit

10,000 EU workers have left NHS since Brexit
By Carolyn Wickware
22 September 2017



Nearly 10,000 EU workers have left the NHS since the Brexit vote, according to new official figures from NHS Digital.

Following the release, Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat leader called on Theresa May to ring-fence the rights of EU nationals in the UK and British citizens living in Europe so that they are not used as ‘bargaining chips’ during Brexit negotiations.

According to the official figures, 9,832 EU nationals left the NHS between 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2017 – an increase of 22% on the previous year, and up 42% on two years earlier.

Nearly 10,000 EU workers have left the NHS since the Brexit vote, according to new official figures from NHS Digital.

Following the release, Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat leader called on Theresa May to ring-fence the rights of EU nationals in the UK and British citizens living in Europe so that they are not used as ‘bargaining chips’ during Brexit negotiations.

According to the official figures, 9,832 EU nationals left the NHS between 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2017 – an increase of 22% on the previous year, and up 42% on two years earlier.

A BMA spokesperson said the new figures are ‘no surprise’. 

They added: ‘More than a year has passed since the referendum yet the government has failed to produce any detail on what the future holds for EU citizens and their families living in the UK.

‘Theresa May needs to end the and grant EEA doctors working in the NHS permanent residence, rather than using them as political pawns in negotiations.’

In total 3,885 nurses, 1,794 doctors and 1,518 support staff from the EU left the NHS between June 2016 and June 2017.

Mr Cable said: ‘We are losing thousands of high-quality nurses and doctors from the NHS, driven partly by this government's heartless approach to the Brexit talks.

‘Using EU nationals as bargaining chips is not only morally wrong, it is utterly counter-productive and damaging to our NHS.

‘It's time for the government to take the issue of EU citizens in the UK and British nationals in Europe out of these negotiations.

‘Theresa May must make a bold offer to the EU to ring-fence negotiations on citizens’ rights and come to a rapid agreement.’

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