Exclusive: Government to suspend NHS recruitment from India amid covid crisis

Several senior sources told HSJ a pause in recruitment was due to come into effect imminently. It is thought some nurses’ planned journeys from India to the UK may have already been stopped.

India has experienced a huge and devastating covid wave in recent weeks and today reported a new daily record of more than 380,000 confirmed cases. 

There has been concern about reports of clinicians moving to the UK to work in the NHS while Indian health services are in such dire need. 

Those who have already been recruited to join NHS trusts, but not yet travelled, will now be delayed, sources said.

However, a source close to discussions told HSJ  it was unclear whether the suspension was the preferred option of the Indian government. Some of those affected are likely to have already left their healthcare job in India and have been preparing to travel.

Separately, in an email to NHS leaders today, NHS chief operating officer Amanda Pritchard and chief people officer Prerana Issar said: “The most urgent request from the government of India is for equipment and they are not actively requesting additional healthcare personnel to join their efforts in person during this very challenging period.”

HSJ reported earlier this week healthcare professionals had been left in a desperate situation, with many having lost family members to covid and others stranded and unable to travel back to the UK to work.

‘Coordinated’ response

The email from Ms Issar, who was born in India and has worked at Unilever India, and Ms Pritchard urged trusts to support staff in the UK who are affected by the crisis in India.

They said support needed to be “properly coordinated”. 

The email said: “Our initial NHS England and NHS Improvement offer of support… includes providing our expertise on surge hospitals and staffing, advice on clinical pathways, reviewing aid inventory to ensure equipment supplied is most useful and also sharing expertise based on our NHS experience, which will be led by the CPO Clinical Advisory Group.”

Ms Issar said she had been in direct communication with India’s principal scientific adviser, as well as coordinating through government. 

“Please do retain equipment, medicines and other products that your organisation has in stock as the response is being co-ordinated by government,” the email said. It also directs readers to a request for specific equipment and medicine from via the Indian High Commission in London.

In terms of supporting staff working in the NHS, Ms Issar said: “My ask of you is to please ensure that all staff from India have the support they need and ask for, including signposting staff to the health and wellbeing offers we have put in place.”

She said she had lost members of her family to “this dreadful virus” in recent days. “I extend my heartfelt support, condolences and sympathy to everyone who is going through this too,” she said.

A spokeswoman for the DHSC said: “We are in regular discussion with the Government of India and any nurses who are planning to travel to the UK in the coming months will not have their NHS job offer withdrawn if they are unable to travel or choose to delay.”*

She added more than 600 pieces of medical equipment had already been sent to India and that the two governments were working closely to identify any further assistance the UK can provide.

* article amended at 15:20 on 30 April to include the DHSC’s response