Addressing the new junior health and social care minister, Helen Whateley, Hunt said:Can I congratulate the department on securing this NHS visa, but as the minister knows, it does not apply to nurses and care workers in the social care sector. What is the department’s assessment of the gap there will be in the social care workforce as a result of this new immigration policy, and how are discussions going with the Home Office and No 10 on that issue? Whateley replied that she was “well aware” of concerns in the social care sector, but indicated the government was not about to shift. She said:It’s important that employers are taking the steps that they can take to make sure that social care jobs are attractive, and of course should be well paid. This is a row which could run.

Source: The Guardian March 10, 2020 09:16 UTC