UK unveiled a fast-track health and care visa on Tuesday (14) to "attract the best and brightest from around the world".
Home secretary Priti Patel and secretary of state for health and social care Matt Hancock have said that the new visa will be launched in the summer and it will make it cheaper, quicker and easier for foreign healthcare professionals to come to the UK.
The health and care visa will be open to workers who have a confirmed job offer in one of a series of "skilled" roles within the NHS or care sector - or for NHS service providers, such as doctors, nurses, radiographers, social workers and paramedics.
As part of the new scheme, those who apply via the visa and their dependents will be exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
The legislation needed to open this new route was laid in Parliament on Tuesday and health professionals can apply from August, an official statement said.
The new visa comes with a reduced visa application fee and an exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. Professionals applying on this route can also expect a decision on whether they can work in the UK in just three weeks, following biometric enrolment.
Those working in health and social care who do not qualify for the health and care visa will still be able to claim a reimbursement from the Immigration Health Surcharge if they have paid it on or after 31 March.
“This new visa is part of our new immigration system making it quicker, cheaper and easier for the best and brightest health and care professionals from around the globe to work in our brilliant NHS," said Priti Patel.
"Health and care professionals from all over the world have played a vital role in hospitals and care homes across the country fighting coronavirus. The introduction of the health and care visa follows several unprecedented measures to show the UK’s gratitude to health workers from overseas."
Matt Hancock said: “The unwavering commitment, skill and compassion staff have shown during the fight against this deadly virus is nothing short of phenomenal, and the reimbursement of the immigration health surcharge recognises the enormous contribution of those who have come to the UK to work in health and social care.
According to the statement, the government wants employers to focus on investing in the domestic workforce as immigration is not the answer to the challenges in the social care sector.
Davindra and Seema Misra, and Vijay and Gita Parekh
Varchas Patel with his father Vipin and mother Jayshriben
Hasmukh Shingadia and his wife Chandrika were all victims of the Horizon scandal
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)