The National Health Service Trusts issued a warning on Friday that it will no longer provide visas to social care workers.
The UK’s migration agency, the Home Office, said on Thursday that 143,990 health and care worker visas were awarded in the fiscal year ending September 2023.
This is more than quadruple the 61,274 for the fiscal year ending September 20, 2022.
According to the Home Office, the top three nations on these visas are Indians, Nigerians, and Zimbabweans.
Nigeria has the highest percentage growth, after only Zimbabwe (169%) and India (76%).
Nigeria increased by 329 percent in terms of dependents awarded health and care work visas, from 10,533 to 45,203.
The increased number of healthcare professionals migrating to the UK is owing to the country’s inexpensive and easy entry migration circumstances, while the country suffers a lack of healthcare workers as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic.
The number of Nigerian-trained physicians operating in the UK increased to 11,001 as of March 2023.
The data shows that this has created an unprecedented increase in non-EU immigration to the UK, mostly from migrants arriving for employment on health and care visas.
According to statistics, health and care work visas were the most popular form of work visa on which dependents arrived to the UK, and are driving the growth in immigration of people on work-dependent visas.
The 143,990 statistic only applies to main visa applicants and does not include dependants, which can range from two per person to nine, or even 10, if extended family members are included.
On a health and care worker visa, medical professionals can travel to or stay in the UK to do an approved job with the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in adult social care under the temporary visa programme.
Visas are valid for up to five years and can be renewed, and partners and children can seek to join as the primary applicant’s “dependents.”
cc: Punch Ng
