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Doctors and Nurses: Overseas Workers

Asked by Lee AndersonReform UKDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 1 July 2025UIN 61215

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require British trained (a) doctors and (b) nurses to give a minimum of five years’ service to the NHS before working abroad.

Answered by Karin Smyth

The Government has no current plans to introduce tie-ins for doctors and nurses working in the National Health Service. The Government keeps the funding arrangements for all healthcare students under close review.

Later this year, we will publish a new workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, to treat patients on time again. We will ensure the NHS has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need when they need it.

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