Physician associates

DAUK is actively involved in the national discourse around the roles of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs). Our committee members have been vocal in the media, raising concerns about the roles and the regulation of PAs and AAs by the General Medical Council (GMC). We briefed politicians in the House of Commons and House of Lords on the draft Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024, the legislation for the regulation of non-doctors by the GMC, as it passed through Parliament.

Leng review

DAUK also briefed Peers ahead of a Lords debate on the Leng Review, which we welcomed when it was announced in November. We responded to the GMC consultation on their regulation, highlighting the widespread concern on the lack of scope and standards in what is being proposing. The GMC has now begun regulating PAs and AAs, despite a lot of concern around it, with our chair Ms Helen Fernandes saying it will not protect patients or doctors. We have given our support and contributed financially to a legal challenge by Anaesthetists United to the GMC regulation of PAs and AAs. DAUK will not let up on the issue of PAs and AAs. We firmly believe the future of the medical profession and the patients it looks after are at risk.

Dr Jenny Vaughan

We were deeply saddened by the death our dearest friend and colleague Dr Jenny Vaughan. Jenny was a founding member of DAUK, a past chair, and absolutely lived and breathed the Association. There were touching obituaries in the Guardian, the BMJ, and on BBC Radio 4’s Last Word. We are holding a FREE conference in memory of Jenny on 17 May (10am to 4pm) which will feature panels, discussions, and presentations on the causes she was passionate about, as well as some of the challenges facing the NHS.

GP crisis

Our GP committee has been extremely busy highlighting the issues that face general practice. Dr Ellen Welch’s book, Why Can’t I See My GP?, has been a cornerstone of our work with a copy sent to every MP before the general election to help them understand general practice and to make it a key issue. Since the election, copies have been sent to members of the Health Select Committee and to MPs who are also doctors, and we have relaunched our GP manifesto. Dr Welch featured in the Daily Mail, the Sunday Times, i News and the Daily Express, and was interviewed on Sky News, BBC Radio 5Live and BBC Radio Cumbria – among others. Her book prompted debate on ITV’s Good Morning Britain about which types of ailments people should see their GP with, and whether children should be taught in schools how to use and access the NHS.

Manifesto

The GP committee hosted an election briefing during which it unveiled its manifesto for saving general practice. Since the election our GP committee continues to hold the new government to account on issues around general practice. We warned that the increase in employer National Insurance contributions could put financial pressure on already struggling general practices. And while we cautiously welcomed an announcement by the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, for an extra £889m for general practice, we stressed that a huge amount of the money will be swallowed up meeting those National Insurance obligations. DAUK continues to call for funding to help solve the GP crisis. Indeed, we welcomed the findings of the Darzi Review, which advised the government to invest in general practice.

Work with government

We have offered to work with the government on solutions to the issues facing primary care. Our research has found that the equivalent of 3,000 doctors are currently unemployed or underemployed stand ready to work in general practice with the right investment. Committee members have been incredibly busy speaking to the media to highlight the issues facing general practice, not least Dr Sarah Jacques who shared her powerful story of burning out as a GP on BBC Breakfast and in the Telegraph. GP spokesperson Dr Steve Taylor has produced an astonishing wealth of data and statistics on the NHS and general practice, which he shares in his social media network. It’s helped Dr Taylor build an extensive following, including with health journalists, and insert him and DAUK into social media conversations.

NHS Practitioner Health

We highlighted a move by NHS England to stop the funding for hospital doctors referred for help to NHS Practitioner Health. Those who support doctors through Practitioner Health were also told just the week before it was due to be closed. One of our members, at that meeting, anonymously tipped us off. A social media campaign highlighted the NHS England plans in the media and the decision was reversed less than a week later.

Dr Sarah Benn

We were ‘shocked and saddened’ by the sanction handed down to Dr Sarah Benn following her Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing. Dr Benn, a GP for 32 years, was suspended from the medical register following her participation in peaceful climate protests. DAUK’s Dr Steve Taylor wrote a letter to the Times on the case and the discussions around it, saying that protesting would not affect clinical judgement or trustworthiness.

Climate crisis

We joined Plant-Based Health Professionals UK (PBHP UK) to highlight serious concerns from the medical profession over the Government-backed Let’s Eat Balanced campaign. Dr Matt Lee, DAUK’s sustainability lead, and Dr Shireen Kassam, director of PBHP UK, co-wrote an open letter to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to express their deep concerns at the high level of misinformation within the campaign, and ask for the campaign to be retracted. The letter was reported in a number of publications including the Independent and openDemocracy. A series of guest blogs have been published on our website, including this by Dr Marnie Sethi on the health impact of the climate crisis.

NHS Whistleblowing

DAUK supports the proposal for the Office of the Whistleblower and is working with not for profit organisation Whistleblowers UK to change how society thinks about whistleblowing. Dr David Nicholl is at the forefront of our work in this area to enable healthcare professionals to raise concerns without fear. Dr Nicholl highlighted our work to protect NHS whistleblowers at the Medical Journalists’ Association’s (MJA) symposium on Building Trust in Health Journalism. The symposium was supported by DAUK and gave our committee members the chance to hear presentations on a range of issues, and to make contact and build relationships with key health and medical journalists.

Overseas NHS Workers Day

The NHS came together for our fourth annual Overseas NHS Workers Day on Friday 1 March. Overseas NHS Workers Day is now a firm fixture in the calendar and provides a chance to celebrate the incredible contribution they make to the NHS and the health of our nation. Social media was full of videos, photos and the stories of our international colleagues, using the hashtag #OverseasNHSWorkersDay. Trusts displayed flags representing the countries of birth of overseas staff; colleagues wore blue and green, the colours of the day, and some even had an international-themed lunch. Overseas NHS Workers Day takes place this year on Friday 7 March. Join in the celebrations.

Academic Foundation Jobs

An open letter was sent to all medical school deans urging them to unite in opposition to changes to the allocation of academic foundation jobs. We believe UKFPO’s announcement that all Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP) applications will fall under the Preference Information Allocation system posed serious issues. The frustrations of the many medical students who were allocated to foundation schools outside of their top choices were shared by our student committee. And we requested a formal review of the UKFPO system by the Department of Health.

DAUK in the media

DAUK and our committee members regularly contributed to articles and broadcasts, and provided briefings and background material to journalists working on more in-depth pieces. We are proactive in putting out comment on our website and social media, and sending it direct to journalists. Our members are working hard to build good working relationships with reporers, including though networking at events such as the Medical Journalists’ Association annual awards. Our work to oppose the expansion of PA and AA roles has had real cut through and been highlighted in the national media, and medical websites and publications. And we have had some stunning media coverage for our GP committee, with members regularly invited to comment in health publications such as GP Online and Pulse Online. We look forward to continuing to advocate for doctors, patients, and the profession in 2025. And, if you can, please support our work by becoming a member or donating to our Go Fund Me.

Ms Fernandes had been co-chair alongside Dr Matt Kneale, who stood down from DAUK’s executive committee at the AGM.

We would like to express our profound thanks to Dr Kneale for his leadership, dedication, and contribution to DAUK during his time as co-chair.

Ms Fernandes said: “I am delighted to continue on now as Chair of DAUK, for what looks like a busy year ahead.

“I am very grateful for the support of my committee and admin team. Matt will be missed, but I know he is only a phone call away. I expect to call him often.”

Dr Ellen Welch is DAUK’s new vice-chair and Dr Elissa Abi-Raad continues as treasurer.

Dr Lizzie Toberty continues as GP lead, Shonelly Novintan is DAUK’s Learn Not Blame lead, Dr Matt Lee remains sustainability lead, Dr Pushpo Hossain continues as IMG lead and Maya Machesney is the new student lead.

The AGM heard a round-up of some of DAUK’s work and achievements.

Physician associates

DAUK is actively involved in the national discourse around the roles of physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs).

Our committee members have been vocal in the media, raising concerns about the roles and the regulation of PAs and AAs by the General Medical Council (GMC).

More than 2,800 doctors signed a letter from DAUK to the GMC, warning the proposed regulation of PAs and AAs will undermine standards and put patients at risk.

We briefed politicians in the House of Commons and House of Lords on the draft Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024, the legislation for the regulation of non-doctors by the GMC, as it passed through Parliament.

We responded to the GMC consultation on their regulation, highlighting the widespread concern on the lack of scope and standards in what is being proposing.

Our correspondence with the GMC has been published on the DAUK website and shared with the media.

We have given our support and contributed financially to a legal challenge by Anaesthetists United to the GMC regulation of PAs and AAs.

Anaesthetists United says the distinction is blurred between doctors and non-doctors, and that patients should be able to know the difference.

DAUK will not let up on the issue of PAs and AAs. We firmly believes that the future of the medical profession and the patients it looks after are at risk.

Dr Jenny Vaughan

We were deeply saddened by the death our dearest friend and colleague Dr Jenny Vaughan.

Jenny was a founding member of DAUK, a past chair, and absolutely lived and breathed the Association.

Members paid tribute to her on our Wall of Support on the DAUK website, and there were touching obituaries in the Guardian, the BMJ, and on BBC Radio 4’s Last Word.

We are planning a memorial day for Jenny next year, and more details will be announced in due course.

GP crisis

Our GP committee has been extremely busy highlighting the issues that face general practice.

Dr Ellen Welch’s book, Why Can’t I See My GP?, has been a cornerstone of their work with a copy sent to every MP to help them understand general practice and to make it a key issue this general election.

Dr Welch featured in the Daily Mail, the Sunday Times, i News and the Daily Express, and she was interviewed on Sky News, BBC Radio 5Live and BBC Radio Cumbria – among others.

Her book prompted debate on ITV’s Good Morning Britain about which types of ailments people should see their GP with, and whether children should be taught in schools how to use and access the NHS.

One of the key successes has been the prolific work on social media of Dr Steve Taylor, who produces a wealth of data and statistics on the NHS and general practice.

It’s helped Dr Taylor build an extensive following, including with health journalists, and insert him and DAUK into social media conversations.

GMC

DAUK co-chairs Helen Fernandes and Matt Kneale were invited to join the GMC Annual Symposium, which was held shortly before the release of the new Good Medical Practice.

Ms Fernandes and Dr Kneale have held quarterly meetings with the chair, chief executive and head of education of the GMC.

The meetings have been of a robust nature as we attempt to hold them to task.

To that end, in our regular GMC case in focus on the website Pulse, we highlighted the case of Dr Steven Zaw, a secondary care doctor who was suspended for ‘inadequately supervising’ the PA under his authority.

The article, which focused on PAs and supervision, was Pulse’s most read of the year so far.

NHS Practitioner Health

We highlighted a move by NHS England to immediately stop the funding for hospital doctors referred for help to NHS Practitioner Health. Those who support doctors through Practitioner Health were also told just the week before it was due to be closed.

One of our members, at that meeting, anonymously tipped us off.

We launched a social media campaign and highlighted the NHS England plans in the media and the decision was reversed less than a week later.

Dr Sarah Benn

We launched an online survey asking for the views of our members, healthcare professionals, and the public on the case of Dr Sarah Benn.

Dr Benn, a GP for 32 years, was suspended from the medical register following her participation in peaceful climate protests.

The survey was highlighted by Pulse, and the results are being reviewed and will be published in due course.

We issued a statement that we were ‘shocked and saddened’ by the sanction handed down to Dr Benn following her Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service hearing, which was picked up by the media, including BBC Online.

DAUK’s Dr Steve Taylor, meanwhile, wrote a letter to the Times on the case and the discussions around it, saying that protesting would not affect clinical judgement or trustworthiness.

Climate crisis

We joined Plant-Based Health Professionals UK (PBHP UK) to highlight serious concerns from the medical profession over the Government-backed Let’s Eat Balanced campaign.

Dr Matt Lee, DAUK’s sustainability lead, and Dr Shireen Kassam, director of PBHP UK, have co-written an open letter to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to express their deep concerns at the high level of misinformation within the campaign, and ask for the campaign to be retracted.

The letter was reported in a number of publications including the Independent and openDemocracy.

Chris Packham supported our essay-writing competition for medical students on the subject of biodiversity.

Mr Packham, the broadcaster, environmental activist, and animal welfare campaigner, will guest judge the shortlisted finalists.

NHS data

We collaborated with tech-justice non-profit Foxglove and other groups to challenge the award of the biggest IT contract in the history of the NHS to US tech giant Palantir.

DAUK’s Dr David Nicholl spoke to the Sunday Mirror, describing the £330m seven-year agreement as ‘a poor deal for taxpayers and patients’.

He told our website it had not undergone sufficient public scrutiny.

NHS whistleblowing

DAUK supports the proposal for the Office of the Whistleblower and is working with not for profit organisation Whistleblowers UK to change how society thinks about whistleblowing.

DAUK’s Dr David Nicholl joined politicians, health leaders, and campaigners for a Westminster roundtable organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Whistleblowing.

Dr Nicholl also highlighted our work to protect NHS whistleblowers at the Medical Journalists’ Association’s (MJA) symposium on Building Trust in Health Journalism.

The symposium was supported by DAUK and gave our committee members the chance to hear presentations on a range of issues, and to make contact and build relationships with key health and medical journalists.

Overseas NHS Workers Day

The NHS came together for our fourth annual Overseas NHS Workers Day on Friday 1 March.

Overseas NHS Workers Day is now a firm fixture in the calendar and provides a chance to celebrate the incredible contribution they make to the NHS and the health of our nation.

Social media was full of videos, photos and the stories of our international colleagues, using the hashtag #OverseasNHSWorkersDay.

Trusts displayed flags representing the countries of birth of overseas staff; colleagues wore blue and green, the colours of the day, and some even had an international-themed lunch.

Academic foundation jobs

We sent an open letter to all medical school deans urging them to unite in opposition to changes to the allocation of academic foundation jobs.

We believe UKFPO’s announcement that all Specialised Foundation Programme (SFP) applications will now fall under the Preference Information Allocation system posed serious issues.

Medical Student Committee

Our student funding campaign was endorsed by the Medical Schools Council, which wrote to each of the secretary of state for health in the four nations.

The committee responded to the government’s long-term workforce plan with a national survey on the current educational experience of medical students. The results, which showed students struggling for learning opportunities already due to overcrowding, were shared widely on social media. 

The committee supported a student who had missed UKFPO deadline due to difficulties with the platform.

Committee members joined DAUK co-chair Dr Matt Kneale at a meeting with the GMC to talk about their views in the GMC and how they might work together on shared events at universities and explaining the council’s work.

We responded to the UKFPO’s waiting list with statements sharing the frustration of those medical students still to be allocated jobs and those allocated outside of their top choices.

The statements were posted on our website and social media and shared with the media.

We also submitted freedom of information requests to NHS England to understand the true picture. The request was rejected but NHS England should publish data in their next annual report. 

And we have begun preparations for expanding the Medical Student Committee for the next academic year.

Communications and media

DAUK and its committee members regularly contribute to articles and broadcasts, and provide briefings and background material to journalists working on more in-depth pieces.

We are proactive in putting out comment on our website and social media, and sending it direct to journalists.

And we are quick to respond to requests, with someone being available to speak to a journalist in the majority of cases.

We are working hard to build good working relationships with health journalists including though networking at events such as the Medical Journalists’ Association recent symposium.

Our work to oppose the expansion of PA and AA roles has had real cut through and been highlighted in the media, including the BBC Online, Mail Online, the Telegraph and the i newspaper, as well as medical websites and publications.

We broke the threat to the funding of NHS Practitioner Health for hospital doctors through our social media channels and website, which was picked up by reporters and brought about a quick U-turn.

We have had some stunning media coverage for our GP committee, with the members regularly invited to comment in health publications such as GP Online and Pulse Online.

Dr Ellen Welch penned an opinion column in Metro putting the NHS workforce on the election agenda.

Dr Sarah Jacques bravely shared her emotional story with the Telegraph for a feature on general practice that also included contributions from our GP Lead Dr Lizzie Toberty and Dr Welch.

The general election has given us a chance to highlight GP issues.

Dr Steve Taylor, of our GP committee, welcomed the election as a chance to raise the profile of the GP crisis, but told GP Online it must not delay a funding uplift. He also spoke to Pulse for an article examining the under-spending on health since the last election.

Become a member of DAUK and support our work.

Join the Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) for the fourth annual Overseas NHS Workers Day this Friday 1 March.

Overseas NHS Workers Day is a special opportunity to celebrate all of the wonderful contributions of our international staff to the health of the country.

Recent data shows around 265,000 out of 1.5 million NHS staff in England reported a non-British nationality, which is around 19 per cent.

They work tirelessly every day to support the NHS and to provide outstanding care for patients.

But they also face difficulties and challenges while helping to save lives.

Dr Pushpo Babul Hossain, DAUK’s IMG lead and founder of Overseas NHS Workers Day, said: “DAUK is proud to be celebrating the diversity, strength and skill that our international staff bring to the NHS.

“Overseas NHS Workers Day is a chance to give back, to recognise the incredible contributions they make, and also to raise awareness of some of the issues faced by international staff.”

While Overseas NHS Workers Day is a chance to celebrate the value that all overseas workers bring to the NHS, year DAUK is highlighting the contributions of international medical graduate (IMG) GPs.

It follows the release of the book ‘Why Can’t I See My GP?’ by former DAUK co-chair Ellen Welch, which shines a light on the crisis facing general practice.

We will be sharing some of the stories of IMG GPs and celebrating their successes, as well as those of overseas workers across the NHS.

And we are inviting NHS trusts, health organisations, patients and the general public to show how much we value our overseas workers.

How to get involved:

• Post a message on social media using the hashtags #OverseasNHSWorkersDay #ONHS2024
• If you are an overseas NHS worker, share your story with us
• NHS trusts and organisations might want to share stories from their overseas workers or a supportive message from a senior leader
• Wear blue and green, the colours of the earth and of Overseas NHS Workers Day
• Send a colleague a message or a card to let them know you appreciate them
• Download posters from our Overseas NHS Workers Day page and display them
• Display flags of different countries
• And if you are posting pictures and videos on social media, please remember to tag us and use the hashtags #OverseasNHSWorkersDay #ONHS2024
  • @theDA_UK and @WorkersNHS on X/Twitter
  • @thedoctorsassociationuk on Instagram
  • @TheDoctorsAssociationUK on Facebook

NHS Employers has published an FAQ in response to the changes to the immigration system announced by the Government.

A DAUK spokesperson said the changes caused “confusion, concern and heartache” among NHS staff and their families when they were announced by Home Secretary James Cleverly.

The spokesperson said the announcement was lacking in important detail and the language being used around the policy change has impacted international medical graduates (IMGs) already living and working in the UK, and those thinking of coming here.

In the announcement, the Government said it would “tighten the Health and Care Worker visa, which has seen a significant number of visas granted to care workers and their dependants, by preventing overseas care workers from bringing their dependants to the UK”.

NHS Employers said that these changes will only affect the care sector and not the NHS.

The Government also announced an increase in the minimum salary required for skilled workers from overseas – from £26,200 to £38,700 – and the more than doubling of income required for family visas – from £18,600 to £38,700.

These increases in salary thresholds do not apply to the Health and Care Visa route, NHS Employers said.

It also said that Health and Care Visa holders will continue to be exempt from paying the Immigrational Health Surcharge (IHS).

Read the NHS Employers changes to the UK immigration policy FAQs.

The DAUK spokesperson said: “We’re grateful for NHS Employers for clarifying many of the issues around the Government’s new immigration policy and what it will mean for people working in the NHS on a Health and Care Worker Visa.

“The Home Secretary’s announcement lacked important details about what it would mean for them and caused a lot of confusion, concern, and heartache.

“There’s no doubt that the language being used and that lack of information has had an impact on IMGs already living here and working in the NHS, and it’s bound to make people think twice about coming here in the future. 

“This at a time when there’s a staffing crisis in the NHS. There are thousands of vacant healthcare roles, and waiting lists continue to grow.

“We’re neither training enough staff nor retaining enough staff and our international colleagues are delivering vital care to people who need it.

“Without them things would be a lot worse.”

Home Secretary James Cleverly has announced:

• A ban on health and care workers bringing family dependants to the UK
• A hike in the minimum salary required for skilled workers from overseas from £26,200 to £38,700 from spring
• More than doubling the minimum income required for family visas from £18,600 to £38,700 from spring
• The scrapping of the shortage occupation list and employers being able to pay workers 20% below the going rate for jobs 
• A review of the graduate immigration route by the Migration Advisory Committee.

Dr Pushpo Hossain, DAUK’s international medical graduate (IMG) lead, said: “We have a huge number of vacancies in our National Health Service and immigration is delivering vital care to people who need it.

“The plans announced by the Government are cruel and inhumane and will only make the staffing crisis in the NHS even worse.

“We’re not training enough healthcare staff as it is, and we’re not retaining enough either with UK-trained staff already leaving in their droves because of pay and working conditions.

“This announcement will make it even harder for the migration of health workers to the UK, decimating recruitment and placing an even greater strain on the NHS.

“The current pay scale for many doctors and nurses wouldn’t meet the minimum salary threshold. Why would anyone work in a system that’s underpaid, understaffed and overstretched and accept they won’t be able to bring their families to be with them and to help them decompress at the end of a gruelling shift?

“It will also destroy family lives, causing misery for many people working in the NHS and could force them to leave.

“It will not only affect healthcare workers who were planning to come to the UK, but also the morale of IMGs, like myself, who feel targeted by inflammatory statements towards International healthcare professionals from this Government.”

“In short, the essence of the plan is a systematic destruction of the NHS.”

“DAUK stands with our brilliant international colleagues working in the NHS – without them there wouldn’t be a National Health Service.

“Immigrants and children of immigrants make up more than two fifths of the total NHS workforce and are dedicated to saving lives and looking after people.

“This group of people are continuing to prop up our failing health system and without them things would be so much worse.

“Therefore this treatment of them is beyond unacceptable.

“There are thousands of vacant healthcare roles and growing waiting lists. Instead of divisive proposals, the government should focus on how it’s going to fix those problems.”

he BBC’s adaptation of Adam Kay’s best-selling book This is Going to Hurt, which shows the stark reality of how it feels to work in the NHS, aired last week.

The seven-parter is loosely based on Kay’s time working as a junior doctor – health workers across the UK have praised the show, saying it shows the racism, trauma and burn-out doctors and nurses experience while working in the health service.

The first episode played out a horrific racist moment in which a patient screamed ‘Get that P*** off my baby’. As an international graduate, it sadly reflects my experiences of racism within the NHS where comments such as ‘Why don’t you go back to where you came from?!’ or ‘I want to be seen by a white doctor!’, are all too common.

I joined as a doctor from my home country of Bangladesh in January 2020 – just before the pandemic hit the UK. I’d always wanted to become a part of the legacy of the NHS, to contribute to an institution that provides almost all services to patients for free.

Nothing is more rewarding than knowing you can provide your people with the best healthcare without handing them a bill at the end. This is what attracts so many international staff to the NHS every year. But little did I know that following my dream to treat patients for free had a huge price tag – just because I’m not British.

Almost 200 different nationalities are represented within the NHS. And the majority of these are at the mercy of yearly hospital contracts to get their visa renewed.

To legally reside and work in the NHS, visas typically must be renewed on an annual basis, which can cost up to £500 per applicant, per year. Their fate is almost always tied to obtaining a card called the Biometric Residence Permit. To put this into context, without this permit staff are unable to work, open a bank account, apply for a license to drive or even rent an apartment. Travel outside the UK for incidents such as a family emergency is avoided – as without the BRP one cannot re-enter the UK.

After five years in the UK, we then become eligible to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Remain, which means we are then a permanent resident. Despite working on the frontlines of the pandemic, there is no guarantee of getting this application accepted, and the rejection rates are alarming even after submitting a perfect application. Each application comes with a huge price tag of around £2400 per applicant.

What’s more, the state of the NHS depicted in This is Going to Hurt has only got worse. Since Kay wrote the bestseller, we’ve seen ten years of austerity, severe staff shortages and the pandemic – yet as an international medical graduate, I’ve had to run an extra mile to prove that I’m worthy to live in the UK.

On top of this, in order to avail NHS services myself, I had to pay an international health surcharge of around £400 before being granted a visa to work in the UK. This charge was scrapped thanks to campaigning by Doctors’ Association UK. Since I joined the NHS, I have paid my taxes religiously but I don’t have any recourse to public funds should I become sick or unable to work.

Sometimes I wonder if it is worth it at all, to stay away from my home and the life I knew so well to come and live in the UK where immigration rules seem so hostile.

I’ve worked side by side with my British colleagues and cared for all the patients’ as if they were my own family – but when the storm of the pandemic calmed down – I was made to feel disposable. I watched as other countries recognised the contributions of their international workers and, at times, I feel I’ve chosen badly. It’s a likely prospect that I’ll make the difficult choice to leave my NHS dreams behind for a better opportunity somewhere else.

Until the authorities acknowledge the contributions of international healthcare workers in the NHS and establish measures to retain staff, the quality of care and patient safety will suffer – and that is going to hurt.

Dr Pushpo Babul Hossain, International Medical Graduate Lead with the Doctors’ Association UK

On Friday March 4, the  DAUK celebrate Overseas NHS Workers Day  with a showing of the Hostile documentary, to raise awareness of the extra pressures faced by international staff, and support Indefinite Leave to Remain for Overseas NHS Staff