The BGS is concerned about the Government’s plans to make it more difficult for care providers to recruit staff from overseas. The removal of the care worker visa and increasing education, salary, and English-language requirements will all make it almost impossible for care staff to come to the UK. The care sector is highly reliant on overseas staff, and this will be a significant blow to an already struggling sector.
Social care staff play a huge role in ensuring that older people can remain independent in their homes. Without access to much-needed care at home, avoidable hospital admissions will undoubtedly rise. Older people will spend more time in hospital, as they will not have appropriate care in place for their return home.
The Immigration White Paper, published today, makes valid points about the poor pay and conditions experienced by many care staff. However, the answer is not to make it even harder to fill vacancies. We urge the Government to take immediate action to ensure that care work is valued and offers fair pay and career progression for all staff, regardless of where they come from.
Professor Jugdeep Dhesi, President of the BGS, said:
The health and social care sectors depend on overseas staff, and these changes will be devastating for services already at breaking point. The care sector has been let down by successive Governments. We urge those in power now not to become the latest in a long line of Governments who promise improvement and deliver the opposite. These changes, if introduced, will have a knock-on effect on the NHS, increasing the number of people stuck in hospital waiting for care packages and making it impossible to address the elective waiting list.
"The population is ageing and the need for social care is only going to increase. The Casey Commission must make recommendations that ensure care work is properly valued, pays well and is an attractive career option.”
