London trusts to pay for thousands of EU staff's ‘settled status’

University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust, Imperial College Healthcare Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ FT have confirmed they will cover the cost of the application for thousands of EU staff.

The Home Office revealed plans over the summer for the settled status scheme, which aims to make it “as easy as possible” for EU citizens who have been living in the UK for at least five years to secure the “same entitlements to work, study and access public services” as provided under current immigration rules. 

Marcel Levi, chief executive of UCLH, wrote to the trust’s 1,300 staff from Europe and Ireland, informing them the trust would reimburse £85 for settled status applications in gross salary terms. The settled status application fee is £65, but UCLH explained it would uplift the gross amount paid to reflect tax deductions from salary. 

Professor Levi also said the trust is arranging for specialist employment lawyers to come to UCLH to provide advice to staff and answer questions about applications.

UCLH told HSJ it does not yet know what the final cost to the trust will be. But, if all its EU staff took up the offer, this would cost around £100,000.

Imperial confirmed it would join other trusts in paying for the application of its 1,500 EU staff. A spokesman said the contribution of its EU staff is “hugely valued” and it wants to make sure they are offered the support they need.

The Tavistock and Portman FT also said it would support its staff seeking settled status and added it would facilitate two events where specialist employment solicitors would come to the trust to provide advice.

GSTT added it would “cover the costs” of EU staff applying for the scheme. The trust said it employs around 2,000 EU staff.

A Royal Free spokesman told HSJ it would also be reimbursing staff, as did a Chelsea and Westminster Hospital FT spokesman and a Royal Brompton and Harefield FT spokesman. Moorfields Eye Hospital FT tweeted that it would cover costs so it could “continue to have a thriving global community” at the hospital.

Other trusts have yet to confirm whether they will reimburse staff.

HSJ reported last month that Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals FT would pay for the £65 application for EU staff to seek settled status, costing the trust around £26,000 if all 400 EU staff apply.