Greater clarity needed from PM on plans to scrap immigration health surcharge

Four health and care organisations – including UNISON – have today (Wednesday) written to the Prime Minister seeking confirmation that all international health and care staff, and their spouses and dependants, will no longer need to pay the immigration health surcharge (IHS). The charge, which is due to rise from £400 to £624 a year in October, is currently payable by all migrant workers from non-EU countries, whether they access NHS services or not, both for themselves and for every dependant they have. Last month, the UK government committed to scrapping the charge for heath and care workers in the NHS, but the announcement did not include those working in other healthcare settings. The letter, also signed by the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Physicians, asks the UK government to: confirm that all health and care workers will be exempt from the charge on a permanent basis. This includes those employed in the NHS, independent settings and the social care sector. confirm that the spouses and dependants of health and care workers will also be exempt from the charge. The letter also seeks assurances that those healthcare staff who have already paid the charge in advance will receive a refund. UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “It was always wrong to charge overseas NHS and care staff to use the very services they help provide. “Now this wrong is to be righted, ministers must refund all charges p...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release care workers coronavirus coronavirus health workers dave prentis healthcare staff Source Type: news