Fewer EU workers joining hospital trusts since Brexit vote

New figures released by the NHS show only a handful of EU NHS workers took up roles at Black Country and Staffordshire NHS trusts in 2017/18.

Uniosn has warned the loss of European employees would leave the NHS in "a state of near collapse".

At the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs both New Cross Hospital and Cannock Chase Hospital, 32 EU citizens were hired in 2017/18.

The figures compare to 2014/15, when 54 EU citizens started full-time jobs at the trust.

Across the border in Dudley, the borough's NHS Foundation Trust hired 14 new EU workers in 2017/18 – just three per cent of its overall intake.

The UK average was 7.5 per cent.

A total of 13 new EU workers started at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust over the same period, again just three per cent of the trust's overall intake.

In Walsall, the number of EU nationals being hired as health workers has dropped from 60 in 2014/15 to 12 last year.

In Staffordshire not only has the number of EU hires gone down, but the number of workers from Europe who are leaving their jobs has increased.

At the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs County Hospital in Stafford alongside Royal Stoke, three per cent of the 2017/18 hires were from the EU, compared to 13 per cent in 2014/15.

The number of EU nationals leaving their jobs at the trust increased from 24 four years ago to 40 last year.

Sara Gorton, Unison's head of health, said: "Departing EU nationals mean serious problems for the NHS.

"Brexit is making it harder for hospitals to recruit, and causing workers to question staying here.

"Without the many health employees from across Europe, the NHS would be in a state of near collapse, and their skills and expertise have helped limit the effects of the huge staffing gaps.

"Further staff losses would mean even more stress for an already overstretched workforce, and would have a devastating impact on patient care."