The Welsh Liberal Democrats have hit out at Priti Patel and
the Conservatives after it has emerged that up to half of Welsh trainee GPs
this year could be lost due to what they describe as the Home Office’s “archaic
immigration policies”.
As reported by the Welsh BMA GPs committee today, it takes
three years for trainee GPs to achieve their Certificate of Completion of
training (CCT). But current Home Office rules implemented by Priti Patel and
the Conservatives mean that individuals must have worked for 5 years under a
Skilled Workers Visa in order to be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to
Remain (ILTR).
As a result of this rule, 80 out of this year’s 160 GP
trainees in Wales will not be eligible to stay in the country under (ILTR)
because of limited work opportunities at Welsh GP practices that serve as
established Skilled Worker visa sponsors.
Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said:
“It is unbelievable that the Conservatives' backward immigration
policies look set to rob Wales of a potential 80 future GPs.
“With the estimated needed number of new GPs per year in
Wales at 200, we cannot afford to lose 80 out of the current 160 trainees.
“Priti Patel and the Conservatives must urgently get their
act together, stop scaremongering over immigration and put in place sensible
immigration policies that work for our economy and public services. For far too
long the Conservatives' dogmatic view on immigration has taken priority over
the country's actual needs.
“The Welsh Labour Government also needs to get to grips
with recruitment and retention in Wales, and put in place a long-term plan to
address this issue. They must continue to press the UK Government to urgently
change its policy on this matter.”
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