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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Keir Starmer: Immigration not quick fix to NHS problems | Keir Starmer: Immigration not quick fix to NHS problems |
| (3 months later) | |
| Keir 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 NHS |
| Keir 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 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. |
| It came as new data revealed staffing issues were linked to two deaths at a Glasgow hospital in one month. | It came as new data revealed staffing issues were linked to two deaths at a Glasgow hospital in one month. |
| Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf expects this winter to be "one of the most difficult NHS Scotland has faced". | Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf expects this winter to be "one of the most difficult NHS Scotland has faced". |
| 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. | 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. | Scotland's SNP government is spending £8m on hiring 750 nurses and midwives from overseas this winter. |
| Nurses set to hold biggest-ever strike | Nurses set to hold biggest-ever strike |
| NHS workers back strike action over pay dispute | NHS workers back strike action over pay dispute |
| Scottish ambulance staff vote for strike action | 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. |
| In an interview on BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show, 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 NHS | Sir 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. |
| 'Overstretched and undervalued' | 'Overstretched and undervalued' |
| 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. | 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 incidents include two deaths at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, while there were 59 "near misses" recorded across the health board. | The incidents include two deaths at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, while there were 59 "near misses" recorded across the health board. |
| A further 14 incidents caused illness or injury - 10 of which occurred at QEUH, according to the figures. | A further 14 incidents caused illness or injury - 10 of which occurred at QEUH, according to the figures. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf expects this winter to be one of the most difficult NHS Scotland has faced | Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf expects this winter to be one of the most difficult NHS Scotland has faced |
| 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. | 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. |
| "Like health services across the UK and globally, we expect this winter to be one of the most difficult NHS Scotland has faced." | "Like health services across the UK and globally, we expect this winter to be one of the most difficult NHS Scotland has faced." |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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. |
| 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. | 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 said: "We would like to extend our sympathy to families who have lost a loved one in our hospitals." | He said: "We would like to extend our sympathy to families who have lost a loved one in our hospitals." |
| Sir Keir Starmer's interview on The Sunday Show is available on the BBC iPlayer. | Sir Keir Starmer's interview on The Sunday Show is available on the BBC iPlayer. |
| Related Topics | |
| Keir Starmer | |
| Immigration | |
| Scottish Labour | |
| Scottish independence | |
| NHS | |
| Brexit |