Tory immigration plan threatens to worsen NHS workforce crisis

The Conservative Party’s plan to increase and extend the health surcharge, the fee that immigrants pay to use the NHS, to people migrating from Europe “beggars belief” and is “ridiculously shortsighted,” health unions have warned.

The Tories have pledged to increase the charge that migrants from outside the European Economic Area must pay to use the NHS, from £400 to £625 a year, if they win the general election. When the UK leaves the EU and free movement ends the charge will be extended to immigrants from EEA countries, the party said.1 The Conservatives estimate that the measures will raise more …