This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-63526167

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Keir Starmer: Too many people from overseas recruited to NHS Keir Starmer: Too many people from overseas recruited to NHS
(about 2 hours later)
Keir Starmer says the UK is recruiting too many people from overseas into the NHSKeir Starmer says the UK is recruiting too many people from overseas into the NHS
Keir Starmer says the UK is recruiting too many people from overseas into the NHSKeir Starmer says the UK is recruiting too many people from overseas into the NHS
The UK is recruiting too many people from overseas into the NHS, Sir Keir Starmer has said.The UK is recruiting too many people from overseas into the NHS, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Labour leader argued immigration was not the solution to a staffing crisis as he called for more recruitment from within the UK.The Labour leader argued immigration was not the solution to a staffing crisis as he called for more recruitment from within the UK.
Scotland's SNP government is spending £8m on hiring 750 nurses and midwives from overseas this winter. It came as new data revealed staffing issues were linked to two deaths at a Glasgow hospital in one month.
In England, 34% of doctors joining the health service last year came from overseas - up from 18% in 2014. Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf expects this winter to be "one of the most difficult NHS Scotland has faced".
Meanwhile the biggest ever strike by nurses in the UK looks set to go ahead, after sources with the Royal College of Nursing told the BBC a large majority of members had voted in favour of action in a dispute over pay.
In a wide-ranging interview on BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show, Sir Keir also said Scottish ministers should prioritise the cost of living crisis over a second independence referendum.
And on Brexit, Sir Keir said there was "no case" for rejoining the EU.
No open borders
About 6,000 nursing and midwifery posts are unfilled in Scotland's NHS, while the English health service is said to be facing its worst-ever staffing crisis.About 6,000 nursing and midwifery posts are unfilled in Scotland's NHS, while the English health service is said to be facing its worst-ever staffing crisis.
In England, 34% of doctors joining the health service last year came from overseas - up from 18% in 2014.
Scotland's SNP government is spending £8m on hiring 750 nurses and midwives from overseas this winter.
Nurses set to hold biggest-ever strike
NHS workers back strike action over pay dispute
Scottish ambulance staff vote for strike action
Labour has pledged to take on an extra 7,500 medical students every year if the party wins the next general election.Labour has pledged to take on an extra 7,500 medical students every year if the party wins the next general election.
Sir Keir said those people would be trained into the NHS "from here". In an interview on BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show, Sir Keir said those people would be trained into the NHS "from here".
Asked how many people he would be prepared to let into the country under a managed migration plan, he said: "We don't want open borders. Freedom of movement has gone and it's not coming back.Asked how many people he would be prepared to let into the country under a managed migration plan, he said: "We don't want open borders. Freedom of movement has gone and it's not coming back.
"So that means fair rules, firm rules, a points-based system."So that means fair rules, firm rules, a points-based system.
"What I would like to see is the numbers go down in some areas. I think we're recruiting too many people from overseas into, for example, the health service."What I would like to see is the numbers go down in some areas. I think we're recruiting too many people from overseas into, for example, the health service.
"But on the other hand, if we need high-skilled people in innovation in tech to set up factories etc, then I would encourage that.""But on the other hand, if we need high-skilled people in innovation in tech to set up factories etc, then I would encourage that."
Sir Keir Starmer says he speaks regularly with his his wife Victoria about problems in the NHSSir Keir Starmer says he speaks regularly with his his wife Victoria about problems in the NHS
The Labour leader said he has daily conversations with his wife Victoria, who works in the NHS, about the health service's struggles.The Labour leader said he has daily conversations with his wife Victoria, who works in the NHS, about the health service's struggles.
Asked what she says is the problem with the NHS, Sir Keir replied: "We haven't got enough people."Asked what she says is the problem with the NHS, Sir Keir replied: "We haven't got enough people."
On whether he believes immigration should be used to address that issue, he said: "I think that we should be training people in this country.On whether he believes immigration should be used to address that issue, he said: "I think that we should be training people in this country.
"Of course we need some immigration but we need to train people in this country.""Of course we need some immigration but we need to train people in this country."
Sir Keir's comments come after politicians and campaign groups criticised Home Secretary Suella Braverman's language about migrants.Sir Keir's comments come after politicians and campaign groups criticised Home Secretary Suella Braverman's language about migrants.
Better Brexit deal 'Overstretched and undervalued'
The Labour leader reiterated his stance on Brexit despite warnings about its impact on the economy. Meanwhile data obtained by Scottish Labour using freedom of information legislation shows 336 related to "staffing/inappropriate skill mix" were recorded by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde between July 18 and August 18.
The Office for Budget Responsibility has reported a 15% reduction in trade intensity due to Brexit and forecasts leaving the EU will reduce GDP by 4% over 15 years. The incidents include two deaths at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, while there were 59 "near misses" recorded across the health board.
"We took a decision on leaving the EU in 2016 and we have now left," Sir Keir told the Sunday Show. "There is no case for returning to the EU. A further 14 incidents caused illness or injury - 10 of which occurred at QEUH, according to the figures.
"Now what we need to do is rather than just sticking with the deal we've got, which is not good enough, we need to make Brexit work. We need a better deal." NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed investigations into the circumstances surrounding the two deaths were ongoing - but said the board could not comment further due to patient confidentiality.
Sir Keir said a Labour government would aim to fix issues over the Northern Ireland Protocol, remove barriers to trade and establish closer EU co-operation on security issues Paul O'Kane, Scottish Labour's public health spokesman, said: "NHS workforce is overstretched and undervalued, and these terrifying figures are a glimpse of what will happen on a larger scale if the Scottish government's negligence continues."
Voluntary union Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf expects this winter to be one of the most difficult NHS Scotland has faced
The party chief went on to accept that the union between Scotland and the rest of the UK is "voluntary" and that the people of Scotland were not "stuck in it". But he did not set out a democratic route to a second independence referendum. Humza Yousaf, the health secretary, said: "The health service is facing a triple threat this winter - recovering from the worst effects of the pandemic, high energy costs and rising inflation, and the loss of much needed staff due to Brexit.
Five questions on the economics of independence "Like health services across the UK and globally, we expect this winter to be one of the most difficult NHS Scotland has faced."
Will there be another Scottish independence referendum? He said the Scottish government's £600m health and care plan was working to recruit 1,000 new NHS staff, including up to 750 nurses, midwives and allied health professionals from overseas - with the plan also focusing on the social care sector to try to alleviate delays.
The Scottish and UK governments are currently locked in a Supreme Court battle over Holyrood's capability to stage a referendum. The health secretary added that the government continues to "take positive action to promote patient safety", saying it had last month introduced the Patient Safety Commissioner Bill to Parliament.
"All the court is going to be able to rule, if it does rule in favour [of the Scottish government], is that there could or can be, it's legally permissible, to have a referendum," Sir Keir said. "This legislation will further strengthen the patient voice within the healthcare system and take action to promote patient safety across our healthcare system as a whole," Mr Yousaf said.
"That doesn't answer the political question, which is should there be a referendum." Meanwhile a spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said the Datix system - which collates data on adverse events - "may not give an entirely accurate picture of the situation", adding that on occasions where staffing issues are resolved quickly the system may not be updated.
He argued against a second vote and said that politicians should instead prioritise the cost-of-living crisis. He said: "We would like to extend our sympathy to families who have lost a loved one in our hospitals."
Sir Keir praised Anas Sarwar, the leader of the Scottish Labour party
Sir Keir went on to praise Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who he said could go on to become first minister.
He insisted Labour's route to government at Westminster "runs through Scotland".
"What we've got to do is be facing the electorate in Scotland, across the whole of the United Kingdom, and making sure that our priorities are aligned with their priorities," he said.
"We've done a huge amount of work on this. Anas Sawar has really put that focus, that determination, in here in Scotland."
Sir Keir Starmer's interview on The Sunday Show will be broadcast on BBC One Scotland and BBC Radio Scotland from 10:00.Sir Keir Starmer's interview on The Sunday Show will be broadcast on BBC One Scotland and BBC Radio Scotland from 10:00.