Probashbangla24 online Desk : Scotland’s health secretary has written to EU staff working in the NHS calling on them to stay on in Scotland post-Brexit.
Jeane Freeman’s letter said it was an “unsettling time” but stressed “Scotland is absolutely your home”.
Scotland has about 235,000 EU nationals, with an estimated 26,000 working in health, social care and public administration.
The UK is due to leave the European Union on 29 March 2019.
Getting prepared for Brexit
In her letter, Ms Freeman said that negotiations between the UK and EU on withdrawal were heading towards “expected decisions” in the autumn.
She said: “But the UK government has also been stepping up its preparations for a possible no-deal scenario.
“I know this must be a very unsettling time for all of you.
“That is why I wanted to reiterate now how much I value the contribution of every member of staff, regardless of their nationality.”
Ms Freeman said workers from across the EU and beyond had brought valuable experience and skills that had strengthened and improved the health service.
She added: “Scotland is absolutely your home and we very much want you to stay here.”
Cause disruption
The Scottish government has already committed to meeting the administrative cost of settled status applications for EU citizens working in its devolved public services.
NHS Scotland has previously highlighted concerns about access to specialist medicines, equipment and medical staff after Brexit.
The issue has also been raised by NHS Lanarkshire, which warned withdrawal from the EU could cause disruption to its service, while figures from the Western Isles showed that of the 12 NHS consultants working there in 2017, eight were from EU countries outside the UK. BBC
