Immigration Reforms for Health & Care Workers

Immigration Reforms for Health & Care Workers:

The UK government has announced key changes affecting overseas healthcare recruitment. From January 2026, the English language requirement for health and care workers will rise from B1 to B2. In addition, visa fees and skills charges are set to increase, directly impacting the cost and process of hiring international staff. These reforms may create challenges for hospitals and care providers seeking to attract skilled professionals from abroad.

Another important update is the rise in the minimum salary threshold for healthcare roles, effective from 9 April 2025. While this change ensures fairer compensation for healthcare workers, it may also affect recruitment budgets and hiring strategies across the sector.

Renewed Women’s Health Strategy:

The government is expanding women-specific healthcare initiatives to address long-standing gender inequalities in care. Menopause-related questions will now be included in NHS Health Checks, and additional programs will target conditions that disproportionately affect women. These steps aim to improve access to care, enhance early diagnosis, and promote overall health outcomes for women across the country.

Together, these measures reflect the UK’s commitment to building a stronger healthcare workforce while delivering more inclusive and equitable care. Health providers and professionals will need to adapt to these evolving requirements in the coming years.