Hunt tells EU staff 'you are a crucial part of our NHS'

Mr Hunt told HSJ he wanted to speak directly to the 110,000 EU staff in the health and care sector, telling them: “You do a brilliant job for your patients, you are a crucial part of our NHS, and as a country we value you.

“We all must now do everything we can to ensure our whole workforce feels secure – because that is the only way we’ll ensure we can deliver high quality care for all.”

Mr Hunt also said the country must accept the outcome of the referendum and the challenges it had created “whilst a new relationship with Europe is determined”. However, he added that the British people expect “continuity and stability” particularly in relation to their public services and the NHS.

Mr Hunt’s comments follow reports that EU workers in the NHS have expressed concerns about the vote last week and there have been isolated reports of staff facing racist abuse.

The health secretary was named as a potential candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party by The Sunday Times at the weekend, although his odds, according to bookmaker William Hill, were running at 66/1 on Monday.

Mr Hunt told HSJ: “On Friday morning, the country woke to the news of a majority vote to leave the European Union.

“We must accept that decision and the challenges it brings, not least in the short term whilst a new relationship with Europe is determined. But however they voted, the British people expect continuity and stability in public life – nowhere more so than in terms of our NHS, something we all depend on and the most highly valued and loved public service of all.

“That’s why I want to say directly to the 110,000 EU workers in our health and care system – you do a brilliant job for your patients, you are a crucial part of our NHS, and as a country we value you.

“Ten per cent of our doctors, and more than 20,000 NHS nurses, are from another EU country, and we simply could not do without their contribution.

“As Professor Sir Bruce Keogh rightly said last week, we all must now do everything we can to ensure our whole workforce feels secure – because that is the only way we’ll ensure we can deliver high quality care for all.”