Tens of thousands of NHS workers must have their jobs protected as Britain negotiates its future outside the EU, shadow health secretary Diane Abbott warned today.
The London MP told Labour’s party conference that without freedom of movement for the 135,000 EU workers manning the country’s health and social care services in Britain, the NHS would collapse.
She said: “It is extremely foolhardy that ending access to EU markets is a price worth paying to end free movement.
"Instead of talking about restrictions on free movement, we should insist on assurances from the Government on the legal status of these EU workers on whom our health and social care service depends.”
There are 55,000 people from the EU working for the NHS, and a further 80,000 in social care. Ms Abbott said filling the staffing gaps that would emerge if EU immigration is curbed would be very difficult and would put the quality of both services at risk.
Prime Minister Theresa May has refused to give a “running commentary” on Brexit negotiations, but has said she will deliver controls on the number of people from the EU coming to live in the UK.
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