Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
Labour slams £15m charge to NHS trusts for hiring overseas specialists as ‘nothing short of an outrage’
Boris Johnson gives two thumbs up for the NHS in April while his government continues to charge NHS trusts millions for hiring overseas specialists

THE government has charged NHS trusts more than £15 million over the past three years for hiring overseas specialists, it was revealed today.

52 of 224 NHS hospital trusts in England have paid more than £15.5m through the surcharge since 2017, according to responses to Freedom of Information requests made by the Labour Party.

Trusts that cannot find specialists in Britain, which is plagued by domestic skills shortages, will often look overseas to hire a qualified candidate – but have to pay a surcharge when they do so.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper makes a speech at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit at Lancaster House in central London, March 31, 2025
Workers' Rights / 11 May 2025
11 May 2025

Unions and campaigners condemn Home Secretary after government confirms scrapping of care worker visas

Staff on a NHS hospital ward at Ealing Hospital in London, J
Britain / 11 February 2025
11 February 2025
Damning report finds migrant workers propping up Britain’s crumbling care system are trapped in awful working conditions