Responding to a 76% fall in the number of visa applications from overseas health and care workers between January and April 2024 compared with the same period in 2023, Professor Pat Cullen, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, said:
“Blocking care workers and their families from coming to the UK is detrimental to the care of those in need and cruel to the people who can provide it.
“There are over 150,000 unfilled roles in our social care sector and it is illogical for ministers to celebrate making this situation worse. An overburdened NHS will continue to pay the price for a failing care sector. Many of the patients lining corridors in hospitals should be supported properly at home instead.
“A safely staffed social care sector requires rule changes, clear investment and improving pay and conditions.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
Skills for Care data show there were 152,000 vacant posts - equating to a vacancy rate of 9.9% - in the adult social care sector across England in 2022/23.
