Written question asked by Lord Shinkwin (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 March 2021, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 March 2021. It was answered by Lord Bethell (Conservative) on Monday, 15 March 2021 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

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NHS: Migrant Workers

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which NHS shortages of (1) nurses, (2) medical practitioners, and (3) other staff, could be filled by those coming to the UK from Hong Kong under (a) the British National (Overseas) visa, and (b) any other schemes; and what plans they have (i) to identify, and (ii) to recruit, suitably qualified people from Hong Kong for such roles.

Answer

Hong Kong is not on the World Health Organization’s Workforce Support and Safeguard List, 2020. Therefore, the Department considers Hong Kong a suitable country for supplying the National Health Service with qualified health workers. Agencies are working in Hong Kong and some nurses have already joined the NHS.

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Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

HL13878

Session

2019-21

Subjects

Hong Kong NHS Migrant workers Vacancies British national (overseas)

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk