UK plans fast-track visas for migrants working in health service

LONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Britain said on Friday it would
make it easier for migrants to move to the United Kingdom to
work in the National Health Service (NHS), helping to offset a
possible fall in numbers caused by the exit from the European
Union.
The Conservative government is planning to bring in an
Australian-style points-based system in 2021 after leaving the
EU in a bid to get tighter control of immigration, an issue
which commentators said was a major factor in Britons voting for
Brexit three years ago.
The future of the NHS is one of the key issues in the
campaign for Britain's general election next month.
About 153,000 of 1.2 million health workers are non-British,
and critics have said the end of freedom of movement for EU
citizens after Brexit would deprive the NHS, one of the world's
largest employers, of a vital pool of workers.
At the same time, it was feared that many medical staff who
come from other areas of the globe, especially nurses, would
fail to meet the strict salary requirements of the new system.
About 52,000 of current NHS staff are Asian nationals.
The government said the new NHS Visa would allow it to
control immigration while ensuring there would not be a skills
shortage for the health service.
The fast-track scheme would halve visa fees to 464 pounds
($595) and give applicants preferential treatment and faster
decisions.
"These measures are part of our plan for an Australian-style
points-based immigration system that allows us to control
numbers while remaining open to vital professions like nurses,"
Home Secretary (interior minister) Priti Patel said in a
statement.
"That means the best of both worlds - attracting talent from
around the world so our NHS continues to provide brilliant
service while ensuring that it isn't put under strain by opening
Britain's borders to the entire world."
The plan to relax rules for NHS staff comes after Britain
said in August it would relax immigration rules to attract more
scientists.