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Foreign Workers: Health Services

Answer

The work permit scheme closed on 26 November 2008 and was replaced by the points based system. The following table shows the number of work permits which were approved for applications from nurses and doctors from the top 20 countries, in the 12 months prior to the closure of the scheme.

Work permit approvals
		2008
Top 20 countries		January to December	April to June	July to September	October to December	Total
India	Doctor	45	55	100	50	250
	Nurse	855	960	915	660	3,390
Philippines	Doctor	0	¹—	5	¹—	5
	Nurse	320	315	450	220	1,305
Zimbabwe	Doctor	0	5	5	¹—	10
	Nurse	315	265	345	250	1,175
South Africa	Doctor	35	55	55	25	170
	Nurse	105	130	105	70	410
Nigeria	Doctor	5	5	15	5	35
	Nurse	95	125	160	110	490
Pakistan	Doctor	25	20	45	15	105
	Nurse	55	50	60	35	200
Ghana	Doctor	5	5	5	¹—	15
	Nurse	45	45	65	65	220
China, Peoples Republic	Doctor	20	15	50	35	120
	Nurse	25	25	30	20	100
Australia	Doctor	15	15	15	15	60
	Nurse	25	45	40	25	140
Nepal	Doctor	0	0	¹—	0	¹—
	Nurse	60	55	60	20	195
Mauritius	Doctor	0	0	¹—	0	¹—
	Nurse	35	35	50	35	150
Sri Lanka	Doctor	10	15	45	20	90
	Nurse	10	10	15	10	45
Zambia	Doctor	0	0	0	0	0
	Nurse	25	35	45	25	130
Kenya	Doctor	0	0	¹—	¹—	5
	Nurse	25	35	30	25	115
Jamaica	Doctor	0	¹—	0	¹—	5
	Nurse	20	25	30	25	95
Egypt	Doctor	10	10	30	20	75
	Nurse	0	0	¹—	0	¹—
Trinidad and Tobago	Doctor	¹—	5	5	5	15
	Nurse	15	15	25	10	60
New Zealand	Doctor	¹—	¹—	5	5	10
	Nurse	15	15	15	15	60
Guyana	Doctor	0	0	0	0	0
	Nurse	15	10	30	20	70
Romania	Doctor	¹—	5	20	5	35
	Nurse	¹—	10	5	5	25
Total		2,395	2,625	3,130	2,015	10,170
¹ Indicates 1 or 2. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to nearest 5. 2. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to totals shown. 3. The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. Caveats: The figures do not equate to the number of individual nationals who were granted permits because they include those applications approved to extend or amend an existing permit or where the individual has moved to another job with a different employer. Not all those who were granted a permit took up the job and some may have been refused entry clearance or further leave to remain.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

501 c890-2W; 301780

Session

2009-10

Subjects

Doctors Health professions Nurses Migrant workers

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk