NEW: Conservative MP Tim Loughton tells me there's growing support on Tory backbenches for govt to give carers free visas, as they've done for doctors: "For goodness sake let’s make sure their position is safe for the foreseeable future so they can go on doing that crucial job."
I've spent the day talking to NHS support staff and carers who are not covered by the govt's free visa extension scheme
They're struggling to get the money together to pay for their fees, with stress of the front line
Below are some of their experiences
They're struggling to get the money together to pay for their fees, with stress of the front line
Below are some of their experiences
A quick recap:
On 31st March Priti Patel announces visa extension scheme for doctors, nurses and paramedics. The extension will be for a year
On 31st March Priti Patel announces visa extension scheme for doctors, nurses and paramedics. The extension will be for a year
Later the Home Office produced a list of 18 professions which will will get free visa
Radiographers, midwives, biological scientists, podiatrists, biochemists, paramedics, speech and language therapists are included
NHS support staff and carers are not included
Radiographers, midwives, biological scientists, podiatrists, biochemists, paramedics, speech and language therapists are included
NHS support staff and carers are not included
The extension was predicated partly on the very reasonable idea that it is unjust to ask medical and care workers to pay a small fortune (up to £5,632 for a family of four) to pay for the privilege of helping save our lives in a national crisis, whilst risking theirs
But that hasn't been extended to social carers or NHS support staff, despite the fact that of course, using that criteria, they would qualify. A carer providing intimate care (washing, toileting, cleaning) is at much higher risk of exposure than a radiographer.
And of course, carers and support staff earn much less than their doctor or nurse colleagues.
Yesterday I spoke to Arun, he's a nursing assistant at St Barts
He works with covid patients. He's lived apart from his wife and child because he's worried about their health
Yesterday I spoke to Arun, he's a nursing assistant at St Barts
He works with covid patients. He's lived apart from his wife and child because he's worried about their health
He's being asked to find north of £5000 for his visa extension. He earns £1500 a month.
Of course he and others in his position already pay taxes and cannot access benefits or public funds- he says alongside his rent and bills it's almost impossible to save on his salary.
Of course he and others in his position already pay taxes and cannot access benefits or public funds- he says alongside his rent and bills it's almost impossible to save on his salary.
I spoke to a carer who from Nigeria and been in the country for 14 years. Her kids are British. She needs to find thousands for her visa: ’I've been in this country for how many years now, and some people who came yesterday, because they are doctors or nurses, they are exempted."
...."Someone like me, I have my British child, I have my children in this country, and I’m working, paying my tax, the same job, we are doing the same job, and I’m not exempted. ...it is so stressful trying to find the money. So, so stressful."
Bear in mind, as I say, that some of these people have been in the country for years if not decades. They have children here. The British state isn’t v likely to deport them. But pay the visas they must. They’re now asking for parity with their NHS colleagues,
The Home Office says that there are many thousands of carers working for different organisations which makes providing visa exemptions more difficult.
It’s a bit more difficult but a)that doesn’t apply to NHS support staff b) it didn’t stop govt exempting them from NHS surcharge
It’s a bit more difficult but a)that doesn’t apply to NHS support staff b) it didn’t stop govt exempting them from NHS surcharge
On the surcharge...
The NHS surcharge is effectively an extra tax from migrant non UK/EU nationals, initially levied by the coalition
It’s a charge for any potential NHS use and is done on a per person basis in a family, per year
It can add thousands to visa extensions
The NHS surcharge is effectively an extra tax from migrant non UK/EU nationals, initially levied by the coalition
It’s a charge for any potential NHS use and is done on a per person basis in a family, per year
It can add thousands to visa extensions
You’ll remember that the govt u turned on it last month, after some contrversy and pressure from Tory backbenchers, ministers said all NHS workers and carers wouldn’t have to pay it this year
However, 5 weeks later and the Home Office still hasn’t updated its payment system
However, 5 weeks later and the Home Office still hasn’t updated its payment system
So carers and NHS staff are having to pay the fee when they apply for their visas.
The PM has said that payments will be refunded. But we don’t know when. Or whether refund will apply to them or their families too; and in the meantime applicants still have to raise the funds.
The PM has said that payments will be refunded. But we don’t know when. Or whether refund will apply to them or their families too; and in the meantime applicants still have to raise the funds.
Should any carers conclude that this isn’t worth the hassle and leave the country, it goes without saying that’s going to be a problem for our social care system which has a huge staff shortage. 40% of carers leave the profession in any one year. They can’t afford staff to go.
It’s notable how many of the nonEU nursing assistants/carers are BAME. They are much less powerful and do not have the loud voices of some of their NHS colleagues (graduate doctors and nurses).
Lots to this story and government has had a lot to do in these last weeks. But this could come up next week as part of the debate on the immigration bill. Could be one to watch.
Home Office spokesperson said: “We are incredibly grateful for all the hard work that health and care workers continue to do in the fight against coronavirus. Right across the immigration system we are supporting NHS and other eligible health and care workers...”
“We have introduced a free one-year visa extension to approximately 3,000 key frontline health workers including an exemption to the immigration health surcharge and have expanded the bereavement scheme to all NHS and social care workers.”
“We are working closely with DHSC on how to implement changes to the Immigration Health Surcharge. We know that it is important to get this right and further details will be announced shortly...”
...”In the meantime, the Prime Minister has made it clear that those eligible for an exemption, who have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge since 21 May, will be refunded.”
Update: interesting new polling from @RedfieldWilton on visa extension for social carers. 72% say that social carers should get a free visa extension, in common with their doctor/nurse/paramedic colleagues. 
