‘RCM supports TUC calls for Government to confirm working rights of NHS workers post Brexit

By RCM on 28 February 2017 TUC Healthcare Professionals NHS Staff Brexit

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has today published their latest analysis that provides a regional breakdown of where NHS and adult social care services are most reliant on healthcare workers from the EU.

Their analysis highlights that 145,200 NHS and adult social care workers in England risk losing their right to live and work in the UK after Brexit, with services in London, South East and East of England potentially at risk with the loss of these vial frontline staff.

Commenting, Jon Skewes Director for Policy, Employment Relations and Communications at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM); “To leave hardworking frontline NHS staff in limbo with regard to their future employment rights is an absolute disgrace. There will undoubtedly be a gaping hole in the NHS and our maternity services if the working rights of our EU healthcare colleagues are revoked post Brexit.

“Last year the RCM obtained official figures showing that in England the equivalent of 1,192 full-time NHS midwives are from other EU countries and just as the TUC’s latest analysis has revealed London could be hit the hardest if the working status of EU healthcare workers is not confirmed. In London alone over 16 per-cent of the total midwifery workforce come from other EU countries.

“England already has a shortage of 3,500 midwives – and this could get even worse if EU midwives lose the right to work in this country. To lose over 1,000 midwives will impact hugely on an already understaffed, overstretched and struggling maternity service.

Today the RCM once again joins with the TUC to call on the Government to guarantee that EU midwives and healthcare workers living and working in the UK will have the right to remain post Brexit.”

*Statistics on EU midwife numbers are available to view from NHS Digital here: Qualified Midwifery staff in NHS Trusts and CCGs by Health Education England region and Organisation - Apr 2016 [20kb]

 

Notes to Editors:

For more information on this TUC analysis contact TUC press office
Press Office T: 020 7467 1248 or email media@tuc.org.uk

To contact the RCM Press Office call 020 7312 3456, or email pressofficer@rcm.org.uk.

 

 

About the RCM

The RCM is the only trade union and professional association dedicated to serving midwifery and the whole midwifery team. It provides workplace advice and support, professional and clinical guidance and information, and learning opportunities with a broad range of events, conferences and online resources. For more information visit the RCM website at www.rcm.org.uk.