NHS Loses Vital Medical Staff as Visa Delays Force Romanian Doctors Out
The NHS faces a deepening staffing crisis as more than 100 Romanian doctors have been forced to quit their posts in British hospitals due to Home Office visa processing delays. The exodus has hit major hospitals including London's Whittington Health NHS Trust and Leeds General Infirmary particularly hard.
Visa Chaos Leaves Wards Understaffed
Medical professionals who had been working in the UK for years suddenly found themselves unable to continue practicing when the Home Office failed to process their visa extensions in time. Many were given just 28 days to leave the country despite having crucial NHS roles.
Dr. Andrei Munteanu, one of the affected doctors, told reporters: "We want to serve the NHS, but the system is pushing us out. I had to abandon my patients mid-treatment because my visa renewal got stuck in processing."
Hospitals Scramble to Cover Shifts
The sudden departure of so many experienced medical staff has created:
- Dangerous staff shortages in A&E departments
- Canceled operations and delayed treatments
- Increased pressure on remaining NHS workers
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed they've lost 34 doctors in recent months, forcing them to spend millions on agency staff to maintain basic services.
Government Under Fire for "Self-Sabotage"
Healthcare leaders have slammed the Home Office for creating unnecessary barriers that undermine NHS staffing. The British Medical Association calls the situation "an entirely preventable disaster" that contradicts government promises to support the health service.
With winter pressures approaching, experts warn the loss of these skilled professionals could push some hospitals beyond breaking point unless urgent action is taken to resolve the visa backlog.
