ALT Dear Health Secretary The Doctors’ Association UK is extremely concerned regarding an issue that maybe preventing NHS staff being vaccinated over a bureaucratic obstacle – placing the hospital response to the COVID-19 pandemic at risk and also causing NHS trusts to exploit foreign labour. As we are sure you are aware, a large number of NHS trusts are requiring the use of an NHS number for staff to be vaccinated. There are a significant number of staff who do not have this, resulting in frontline staff from countries all around the world who have been instrumental in combating the pandemic being denied the vaccine. This is unconscionable and amoral and must be rectified with immediate effect. Failure to do so spits in the faces of colleagues who have demonstrated unswerving commitment to the health of the British public and disrespects the memory of our deceased colleagues from foreign countries. A spokesperson from your department has stated that “Vaccines for coronavirus will be
ALT “Vaccines for coronavirus will be offered to every adult living in the UK free of charge, regardless of immigration status.” This is clearly not the case and the denial of the experience of frontline staff cannot be allowed to continue. Administrative issues cannot be used as an excuse to deny staff vaccination. Doing so puts their lives in danger, risks increasing staff sickness and hampering hospital staffing levels. International NHS staff have already faced issues during the pandemic regarding visas and threats of deportation in addition to many facing an increased risk from COVID-19. This is the latest issue that risks alienating staff that are vital the functioning of the NHS and will present an obstacle to staff retention longer term. The simple solution to all these issues would be to grant Indefinite Leave to Remain to all NHS staff, care workers and dependents who have worked through the pandemic and DAUK would urge you to endorse this when it is presented to parliamen
