Should the MAC’s recommendations be implemented, healthcare sector roles such as ‘medical practitioner’ and ‘nurse’ category could be extended

The SOL is designed to encourage overseas professionals to move here to boost staffing in areas the UK cannot fill with ‘domestic talent’ (including European citizens). If a role is on the SOL, it means that individuals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) do not need to follow certain visa restrictions, making a move to the UK more attractive. They still must apply for a Work Visa, but the process is easier.

For example, the minimum salary requirement (£30,000 per annum) does not apply as it would to all other Tier 2 Work Visa applicants. The healthcare sector has been suffering as a number of roles require a Tier 2 Work Visa, but the average salary for a UK registered nurse is £23,000 – a lot less than the income threshold. For care workers, it is even worse; their median salary is just £16,623.

The MAC’s recommendations will help the healthcare sector get the staffing it needs, but it could be only a short-term fix as the SOL may not exist post-Brexit. If there is a “no-deal” Brexit, then the health and social care workforce will face a labour shortage as over 100,000 of the workers are from the EU.