Immigrants: Health Services
(asked on 22nd April 2020) - View Source
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the immigration health surcharge on NHS and care workers; and what plans they have to suspend the charge for this group in the light of their contribution to health and social care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by
Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government is immensely grateful for the dedication of all those working to tackle coronavirus.
On 31 March the Home Secretary announced that the Home Office will automatically extend the visa of any NHS doctor, nurse or paramedic, where it will expire before 1 October, for 12 months, free of charge. This includes an exemption from payment of the immigration health surcharge.
We will continue to look at whether we can provide further assistance during the fight against this virus.