NHS in Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust area could lose 256 EU staff because of Brexit

The NHS in the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust area could lose 256 staff from the EU as a result of Theresa May’s extreme version of Brexit, the Liberal Democrats have warned.

42% of nurses and over half of all doctors from the EU are considering leaving because of Brexit, according to recent research. This means in the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust area, an estimated 256 NHS staff are at risk of leaving including 48 doctors and 151 nurses.

This would create a £1.99m bill to re-hire doctors and nurses from the EU after 2019, due to Theresa May’s plans for a £2000 immigration skills charge for each doctor, nurse and health worker brought in from abroad.

The Liberal Democrats have called for an immediate guarantee that all EU nationals in the UK, including those working in the NHS and social care, can stay after Brexit.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Havant Paul Gray said:

“Hospitals in the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust area depend on doctors, nurses and other support staff from the EU. But many are now planning to leave because of the uncertainty caused by Brexit.

“We must guarantee their rights to stay here immediately to prevent a damaging exodus of these skilled and hard-working people. Our NHS, and the care we all rely on, would suffer without them.

“The NHS is far too precious to be damaged by Theresa May’s decision to pursue a UKIP-style Brexit.

“The Liberal Democrats stand up to Theresa May’s extreme Brexit and give the people the final say, with the choice to remain in the European Union if they don’t like the deal on offer.”

Tim Farron Comes to Visit

It was great to welcome to Tim Farron to the south coast today. Tim came to Portsmouth to visit the Mary Rose Academy, an excellent special school which the local Liberal Democrats were instrumental in getting built.

Tim, as ever, was open to chatting with the crowd and the assembled local and national press. Tim spoke passionately about the need to protect local services from a hard, divisive Brexit which would leave our economy severely damaged.

Then it was off again on the Lib Dem battle bus. Elections are tiring times for all those involved in the campaign as every second counts.

Hayling Island – Focus on Housing and Infrastructure  

Hayling Island
The ​Hayling Island Infrastructure Review is apparently already underway. The Hayling Island Infrastructure Advisory Committee has identified the main areas of concern. All this, even before the consultation period has ended.

I would like to raise these matters:

Firstly, I believe that the social aspect of infrastructure has to have equal weighting to the economic aspect. There is little point in saving a penny or two if the result is a society that it is difficult to live in.

Secondly,  essential services and  infrastructure must be considered holistically. Infrastructure is not the sum of component parts.  For example, if the review sites transport as the top priority will this mean investment in the transport network but none or diminished investment in health services?

Thirdly, all stakeholders must be consulted. By this  I mean that organisations such as the NHS, HBC, HCC, Highways Agency etc must be heard.

Fourthly, the review should not be seen as an end point. The review should look to growth projections and plan to future proof the Island’s infrastructure.

Fifthly, I am convinced that the terms of reference of the review should give equal weighting to what might be described as intangibles such as  air-quality and environmental impact. Such indirect costs may be tricky to work out but that does not mean they should not be considered. These intangibles are often the most vital elements for the social and economic vitality of a community.

Lastly, the review should consider the long-term sustainability of any infrastructural development.

What does all this mean? Well, it means some progress is being made. It means the issue of housing is now focused on the practical realities of infrastructure, as is correct. It also means however that our local councillors are repeating a familiar routine of  creating a problem through short-term thinking, creating themselves a very limited definition of a successful outcome and then congratulating themselves when they meet those low expectations.

Pompey – SOS Call Good for the Club

Very pleased to see that the Pompey community group, SOS, has spoken up about getting behind the team.

At Saturday’s game at Fratton Park, despite a two-nil win against Accrington Stanley, sections of the Fratton faithful turned on the Pompey players.

There’s never any point in attacking your own team. It’s counterproductive.

Good on SOS for having their say.

More about the events on Saturday were covered in The News today.

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