Scots social care industry facing 'devastation' over visa snub

Nicola Sturgeon has warned that the exclusion of social care workers from a new post-Brexit fast-track visa system could have a “devastating impact" on the industry in Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon says the change may be "devastating"

The First Minister urged the the UK Government to rethink the decision which was set out by Home Secretary Priti Patel this week as a points-based visa system was published.

A new health and care visa will fast-track applications and reduce fees for immigrants working in certain professions within the NHS, including nurses and midwives, but social care workers have been excluded.

"In terms of the impact I think it will have potentially a devastating impact on the social care workforce," the SNP leader said today.

"It is true for the whole of Scotland that between 6-8% of our social care workers right now are from countries elsewhere in the European Union."

There will be individual parts of the country where this is even higher, Ms Sturgeon added.

"Particularly now when we owe so much to the social care workforce to exclude them from the visa risk sending a message that we're not grateful for the contribution that they have made, those that work in our social care system that come from elsewhere.

"So for practical reasons and the message it sends, I think it's the wrong decision and I will continue to make representations to the UK Government to change that."

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