Analysis by healthcare think tank the Nuffield Trust shows that nearly 4,300 European doctors have chosen not to work in Britain because of the country’s exit from the EU
London, Thanasis Gavos
Job gaps in Britain’s NHS public health system have been greatly exacerbated by Brexit, new research has confirmed.
Analysis by healthcare body think tank Nuffield Trust shows that almost 4,300 European doctors chose not to work in Britain due to the country’s exit from the EU.
The revelation comes on top of a growing number of doctors and nurses resigning from the NHS due to overwhelming workloads, with the patient waiting list now over 7 million.
Official figures show that only in England the NHS has 10,582 doctor vacancies.
In 2021 there were 37,035 EU and EEA doctors working in the UK. However, if Brexit had not taken place, preventing the arrival of European doctors due to bureaucracy and cost, this figure would have been estimated at 41,320.
A particular lack of human potential exists in the specialties of anesthesiologists, paediatricians, psychiatrists, cardiologists and pulmonologists.
The situation has become even worse for NHS nursing staff. While in 2015-16 9,389 nurses and midwives were recruited from EU countries, in 2021-22 the corresponding number fell to 663.
It is estimated that in total Brexit has prevented 58,000 European nurses from choosing to work in Britain.
However, there is a large increase in nurses from countries outside the EU, such as mainly India and the Philippines.
The investigation comes as the government comes under pressure from employers in health and other sectors to relax criteria for European workers to come.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
