Immigration changes a huge risk for social and healthcare provision, say sector leaders

Sweeping changes to immigration rules could cut the “lifeline” of international recruitment for the UK care sector and negatively impact the NHS, leaders have warned.

The government unveiled its Restoring Control over the Immigration System white paper on 12 May in which it said it would close social care visas to new applications from abroad because of “significant concerns over abuse and exploitation of individual workers.”

“The agreements will move the UK away from dependence on overseas workers to fulfil our care needs,” said the paper, which aimed to tackle longstanding levels of low pay and poor working conditions in the sector in other ways, such as through establishing fair pay agreements.

Read full story (paywalled)

Source: BMJ, 13 May 2025