Six thousand foreign medics will have their UK visas extended for a year to help battle coronavirus over winter.
Nurses, doctors, midwives and paramedics whose right to work in the country was due to expire before 31 March 2021 are among those who will benefit, as well as any children they have up to the age of 18.
They have all made “huge contributions” during the COVID-19 pandemic and will have their visas extended for free – but still need to fill in a form to prove their identity, said Home Secretary Priti Patel.
Ministers were commended for the move, but told hardworking NHS and private healthcare workers should “never have had to worry about their immigration status” in the first place.
Health worker, Chris Manning told Global247news: “It’s quite pathetic really, one minute Patel wants to sling them all out but now we have a crisis, they can all stay, the woman has no heart” he said.
” It shouldn’t be for twelve months it should be extended to life for these very brave people” he finished.
It’s not just health workers who are appalled by the ministers decision and actions, Cara Williams, a campaigner for all NHS staff said: ” These people are complete hero’s, saving the lives of British people on a daily basis – and all they get it a 12 month extension to the right to remain? – It’s farcical”
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