Categories
Government Policy Hostile Environment NHS Surcharge

NHS surcharges have been dropped for overseas health workers. We must now end all unfair healthcare costs

Doctors in Unite is delighted that the government have seen sense and ended the NHS surcharge for overseas health workers. We all owe health workers from overseas a huge debt. They often carry out the work which attracts the lowest pay, and without them the NHS would collapse. They don’t just contribute in the hours […]

Categories
BAME & Inequalities COVID-19 Government Policy Hostile Environment

The hostile environment is inconsistent with government commitments on child health and the fight against COVID-19

Charging those with uncertain immigration status for NHS services was introduced as part of Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’. Non-payment of bills can result in being reported to the Home Office and used as a reason for not being granted settled status. This system remains in place during the Covid-19 pandemic, actively discouraging health care seeking […]

Categories
Government Policy

A call to activism from chair Jackie Applebee

The chair of Doctors in Unite has called her union to action in the face of the calamitous 2019 general election result. Dr Jackie Applebee said she was “horrified” by the outcome. “We cannot sit back and wait for the next general election in five years, before campaigning on issues that affect the people’s health” […]

Categories
Government Policy Hostile Environment

Doctors in Unite to affiliate with human rights organisation Liberty

The UK’s oldest medical trade union is affiliating with the human rights organisation Liberty. Both groups fight for people’s rights and freedoms, hold the powerful to account, and challenge those who abuse their authority. Doctors in Unite and Liberty stand together against the home office’s discredited ‘hostile environment’ policy, where immigration enforcement can access personal […]