As anti-migrant sentiments grow across Britain, recent data reveals the NHS’s deep dependence on overseas staff, whose vital contributions are threatened by restrictive immigration policies causing staffing shortages and risking system collapse.
Amid a surge in anti-migrant rhetoric across Britain, it remains critical to recognise the indispensable role migrants play within the National Health Service (NHS). Far from being a burden, migrants form a significant and essential part of the underpaid NHS workforce, contributing substantially to patient care and the functioning of health services.
Recent data reflect the deep reliance of the NHS on international staff. As of September 2023, over one in five NHS workers in England were non-UK nationals, the highest proportion recorded since 2009, with 30% of nurses and over 36% of doctors coming from abroad. This reliance is not a recent phenomenon but has been integral to NHS staffing, with nearly 25% of hospital staff born outside the UK, and half the growth of the health and social care workforce in the last decade attributed to overseas workers. Such figures underline how migrants are not mere supplementary hands but core to medical roles that support patient safety and healthcare provision.
This heavy dependence on migrant staff highlights an urgent challenge. The UK government’s restrictive immigration policies have recently resulted in a sharp drop in work visas granted, particularly within health and social care sectors where visas fell by 81% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Although 2023 saw an almost doubling in the issuance of visas for health and care workers, such swings illustrate the fragility and unpredictability of staffing pipelines created by policy shifts. These immigration restrictions threaten to exacerbate existing NHS staffing shortages, where over 100,000 vacancies persist despite urgent demand for more personnel.
The issue is compounded by political narratives that scapegoat migrants as a cause for the NHS’s struggles. The reality contradicts this rhetoric: only a tiny portion of NHS budgets (0.3%) is spent on treating non-UK residents, demonstrating that migrants are not a drain on resources but rather essential contributors to the system’s survival. Meanwhile, broader systemic issues such as underfunding, privatisation of services, and job cuts, ironically under governments who claim to protect the NHS, are the true drivers of the crisis. Labour’s recent plans to cut around 100,000 NHS jobs, despite acute shortages, and continued budget reductions risk deepening the strain, even as anti-migrant sentiments increase under some politicians’ rhetoric.
Thus, the challenges facing the NHS are not products of immigration but stem from political and economic decisions that undermine public health infrastructure. It is the privatisation and austerity agendas pursued by those in power, rather than migrants arriving in small boats, that threaten the NHS’s very existence. Ensuring the NHS’s future requires recognising the vital contribution of migrant staff and addressing the root causes of health service decline through investment and sustainable workforce policies rather than divisive, unfounded blame.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] (Counterfire) – Paragraphs 1, 4, 6
- [2] (The Guardian) – Paragraph 2
- [3] (Nuffield Trust) – Paragraph 2
- [4] (Nuffield Trust) – Paragraph 2, 3
- [5] (NHS Confederation) – Paragraph 3
- [6] (Reuters) – Paragraph 3
- [7] (Reuters) – Paragraph 3
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative was published on 15 November 2025, making it current and timely. The data cited, such as the 81% drop in health and care worker visas in 2024, aligns with recent reports from August 2025. ([personneltoday.com](https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/year-to-end-june-2025-immigration-figures-home-office/?utm_source=openai)) The article also references a 2024 report from The Guardian, indicating the use of up-to-date information. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/indian-zimbabwe-nigeria-india-home-office-b1227264.html?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article does not contain direct quotes, suggesting original content. The statistics provided, such as the 81% drop in health and care worker visas in 2024, are corroborated by recent reports from August 2025. ([personneltoday.com](https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/year-to-end-june-2025-immigration-figures-home-office/?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from Counterfire, a UK-based political organisation. While Counterfire is known for its left-wing perspectives, it is a legitimate source. However, the article’s tone and content may reflect its ideological stance, which should be considered when evaluating the information.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and supported by recent data. The 81% drop in health and care worker visas in 2024 is consistent with official statistics. ([personneltoday.com](https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/year-to-end-june-2025-immigration-figures-home-office/?utm_source=openai)) The article also highlights the NHS’s reliance on migrant workers, a well-documented issue. The tone and language used are consistent with the topic and region, and there are no signs of excessive or off-topic detail.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is current, original, and supported by recent data. While originating from a politically oriented source, the information presented is plausible and corroborated by official statistics. The absence of direct quotes and the use of up-to-date data further enhance its credibility.
