Immigrant health workers left in fear by protests: Disruption making it “increasingly difficult” for NHS to operate normally, say bosses
Disruption from anti-immigration protests is making it “increasingly difficult” for the NHS to operate normally, sector chiefs have said as they revealed foreign national health staff fear travelling into work as a result of the disorder.
In a joint statement, the chief executives of all five NHS trusts in Northern Ireland said they were “deeply concerned and appalled” by the violence seen on Tuesday night, which they stated is having a “profound impact” on a system that’s already under strain.
And a UUP MLA said immigrant health workers are 'anxious after a wave of terror' and deserve protection, arguing the care system will suffer if they leave.
It’s known that a large number of NHS workers in Northern Ireland are from outside of the UK and Ireland. For example, in Belfast it has been reported that roughly 40% of nurses recruited from 2021 to 2023 came from overseas, with recruitment drives being particularly common in Romania, India and the Philippines.
State the chief executives: “It is completely unacceptable that our international staff, who provide an invaluable service, should be intimidated or feel too frightened to come to work.
“The current unrest is having a profound impact on all of our services, which are already under enormous strain. All the trusts are trying to operate as normally as possible but the disruption is making this increasingly difficult.
“We value every single member of our staff, who are trying to care for vulnerable people, both in our hospitals and in the community every day.”
The health bosses said everyone who works in the sector, whether hospital staff, care home workers or pharmacy employees, must be “able to provide essential care to everyone that needs it, without fear or intimidation”.
They added: “We would like to sincerely thank all our staff for their continued dedication in really difficult circumstances.”
Meanwhile Ulster Unionist Alan Chambers called for immigrant health workers to be “supported and protected” in the wake of Tuesday night’s disorder.
“Most will have had little sleep as they worried that their homes and children were going to be attacked,” he said.
“International health workers do not disrupt our way of life, they enhance and serve it. Our healthcare system will suffer if any of these valued people decided to relocate.”