The Society of Radiographers has told the government that proposed changes to settled status for migrant workers risk ‘losing the battle with waiting lists'.
On Tuesday (28 October), the SoR submitted evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee consultation, opposing the plans for immigration policy, which would severely impact recruitment and retention of internationally trained healthcare workers.
Under the plans, the government would alter the indefinite leave to remain immigration status policy by raising the eligibility thresholds for permanent residents in the UK from five years to 10. The changes could be introduced as early as autumn 2026.
The key points in the SoR’s evidence are:
- The SoR has long supported initiatives to increase the domestic pool of trained radiographers. This includes expanding access to traditional university programmes, championing the apprentice model and earn-and-learn schemes, and active support for career pathways and professional development at all levels.
- The continued lack of any national Workforce Plan highlights that the UK is still reliant upon competing internationally for radiographers.
- Efforts to reduce waiting times for diagnosis and access to cancer treatment are reliant upon the growth of the radiography workforce. This requires internationally trained radiographers committing to coming to work in the UK, as well as retaining those already working in the health service.
Dean Rogers, SoR executive director of industrial strategy, said: “One of the key measures governments across the devolved nations have told their electorate to judge them by is their ability to reduce NHS waiting lists.
“There is a brutal reality at the core of this challenge: demand is still running away from supply. It isn’t a choice between developing our domestic supply of radiographers or continuing to rely on international recruits – we have to continue to do both.
“The real choice is between accepting this or failing patients and the NHS by losing the battle with waiting lists.”
Read the SoR’s full evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee here.