Parliamentary briefing: Lords debate on the implications of Brexit on ensuring safe staffing levels in the NHS and social care

This briefing has been prepared for Peers ahead of a House of Lords debate on the implications of Brexit on safe staffing levels across health and social care.

It draws on information from the NHS European Office and NHS Employers, both of which are part of the NHS Confederation.

Key points

• The UK’s decision to leave the European Union has created uncertainty for the significant portion of our workforce who are from other EU countries. Approximately five percent of staff working in the NHS are from other EU countries; the proportion is higher for some professions and some regions. This represents over 57,000 people. If many of these staff leave, there would be some risk to our ability to deliver current levels of access to care.

• We therefore ask that immediate steps be taken to assure staff from other EU countries currently working in the NHS and social care that they will be able to remain in the UK indefinitely.

• The uncertainty created about our ability in future to recruit from other EU countries is also worrying NHS leaders, given current staff shortages in some professions and some local areas. We have an immediate and pressing need for clinical staff which cannot be met from our domestically trained market.

• There is also concern about what leaving the EU will mean for the NHS’ ability to recruit the best international candidates to support its world-leading clinical practice, research and education. 

• We note too that a similar and most likely higher proportion of the social care workforce is from other EU countries; if social care struggles to deliver services then demand for NHS care will increase further still.

• The implications of this will need careful management, including both adapting future NHS workforce planning and training and ensuring long-term migration policy meets the NHS’ needs.