London blocks Scotland's bid for doctors

Published on Saturday 14 November 2009 19:08

THE Scottish Government's bid to attract doctors from outside the EU in four key medical disciplines has been rejected by Gordon Brown's Westminster administration, Scotland on Sunday can reveal.

The UK government knocked back an SNP attempt to fast-track job applications of foreign ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors, biochemists, eye specialists and oral-surgery consultants seeking positions in Scottish hospitals.

Scottish ministers have argued that a different approach to immigration is required north of the Border and had specified that consultants from outwith the EU were required in Scotland to meet critical shortages in the specialities.

But Scottish ministers have failed in their eforts to persuade Labour counterparts at Westminster to make a special case for the four specialities.

The rejection forms part of the UK government's new immigration strategy, which critics claim is too focused on the needs of southern England. On Thursday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown acknowledged fears about the costs of immigration by announcing a tightening of the rules to stem the flow of skilled migrants into the UK.

Among the new measures taken by Brown was the removal of civil and aircraft engineers, ship's officers and hospital consultants from the list of occupations Britain needs to recruit from abroad.

The SNP administration had made representations to Westminster calling for exceptions in Scotland. The SNP argued that the four key medical categories ought to remain on the in-demand occupation list.

But the only concession made to the SNP was for radiologists to stay on the list.

Michael Russell, the SNP external affairs minister, said he was "disappointed" that the UK government had turned down his plans in a move that is bound to strain the already tense relationship between Edinburgh and Westminster on the immigration issue.

Russell has argued that Westminster, which has responsibility for immigration, should take a more flexible approach to migrant workers that reflects the needs of Scotland.

The request for special treatment for the five health-related occupations were made in the Scottish Government's submission to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), a body that advises the UK government.

Last night Russell said: "The Scottish Shortage Occupation list is a welcome flexibility in the immigration system.

"In the submission to MAC we provided evidence on five health-related occupations that we wanted to see on the Scottish Shortage Occupation List. It is disappointing that the committee only recommended that radiologists be retained."

The evidence presented by the Scottish Government was unconvincing, the MAC said, with "no specific information" provided suggesting a shortage of biochemists.

For consultants in ENT, ophthalmology and oral surgery, vacancies in Scottish hospitals "appeared to be at a low level".

It was only when the Scottish Government came to radiologists that it was able to make a good case for them to be placed on the in-demand list.

The radiologist shortage amounted to 14-full time posts out of a Scottish total of 256 full-time positions.

Medical organisations said Westminster was being "complacent." Dr Gordon Lehany of the BMA said: "These specialities do sometimes have problems with recruiting. It would be a great shame if we have identified that need and it is somehow blocked."

The UK government also received a submission from Scottish Care suggesting that care home nurses should be included on the list of Scottish in-demand occupations.

Scottish Care said 13.4 per cent of the nursing home workforce came from outwith the EU and there was a shortage of qualified nurses.

The MAC, however, said that the shortage was not severe enough for an exception to be made for care home nurses.

Russell believes the UK's points based system should be altered so that "London weighting" is removed when potential UK migrants are considered.

Under the current system, potential migrants get points based on their potential income. Therefore higher salaries in the South East of England and London make it easier for them to work in the UK.

Also, a competitive edge that was once enjoyed by Scotland under its Fresh Talent Initiative has disappeared. A Scottish scheme that gave international students the chance to stay in Scotland for two years after their graduation has been rolled out across the rest of the UK.

Russell has suggested that Scottish students should be given an optional third year to retain that edge.