Only doctors and nurses with particular specialist skills will be allowed into Britain to work, according to a new immigration list.
The list issued yesterday by a Home Office advisory committee details jobs where there are shortages – cutting existing lists by a third.
It is also likely to be used to restrict access to junior doctor training programmes.
The restrictions only apply to applicants from outside the European Union.
Under the rules, expected to be introduced in November, hospitals would be able to recruit overseas for consultants in a limited number of specialties, such as anaesthetics.
Hositals would be allowed to recruit nurses at band 7 or 8 or band 5 or 6 nurses who are specialists in theatre work, anaesthetics, critical care or who are operating department practitioners, scrub nurses or theatre nurses.
Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "Our new Australian-style points system is flexible to meet the needs of British business while ensuring that only those we want and no more can come here to work. This tough new shortage occupation list supports that.
"This strict list means 30 per cent fewer jobs are available to migrants via the shortage occupation route.
"Those that do come will need to work hard, play by the rules and speak English."
Leave a Reply