1. Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
LO: To analyse and evaluate the impact on British Society of possible changes to healthcare and social security after Brexit
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2. Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
Contents
Current rights that EU citizens have to healthcare and social security
Potential impact that Brexit may have on these rights
Employment statistics for the UK health service
‘Health Tourism’ – what it is and the impact it has on the NHS
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3. Think. Pair. Share
Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
Do you think that the healthcare and benefits rights of EU Citizens will be affected by Brexit? How?
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4. Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
If you are living and working in an EU country can you claim social security benefits e.g. child benefit?
Yes No
Depends on the country
As a migrant worker in the EU - employed or self-employed - you should register with the social security system in your host country.
You and your dependants will then be covered by that country's social security system. Your benefits related to sickness, family, unemployment, pensions, occupational accidents and diseases, early retirement and death will be determined by the local laws.
Thinking point:
Is this fair?
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5. Is this higher or lower than you thought?
Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
How many doctors, nurses and other NHS workers come from other EU countries?
62,000
50,000
78,000
Thinking point:
Is this higher or lower than you thought?
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6. What is the cost to the NHS of ‘health tourism’?
Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
Key Word:
Deliberate health tourism means those who come to the UK deliberately to use NHS services they’re not entitled to for free.
What is the cost to the NHS of ‘health tourism’?
Between £500 million and £700 million
Between £1 million and £100 million
Between £110 million and £280 million a year
Thinking point:
Is this higher or lower than you thought?
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7. The current situation Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
EU citizens are entitled to be treated equally in any healthcare and social security system within the EU.
Each country in the EU has its own system. For example, the UK has the NHS. However the overall system is coordinated by the EU.
We currently have the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card). A valid EHIC gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. The EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home. Treatment should be provided on the same basis as it would to a resident of that country, either at a reduced cost or, in many cases, for free.
There are questions on how the EHIC will continue after Brexit.
EU countries are supposed to compensate host EU countries when their nationals use their healthcare services.
The UK is owed tens of millions by other EU countries in this regard.
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8. 87.5% of NHS staff in England are
British. 5.6% are nationals of other EU
countries - just under 62,000 staff.
Graphics taken from
BRIEFING PAPER
Number 7783, 7 February 2018
NHS staff from overseas:
statistics
By Carl Baker

9. The current situation- doctors and nurses
Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
The current situation- doctors and nurses
The EU’s policy of freedom of movement and the mutual recognition of professional qualifications makes it easy for qualified doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals from the EU to work in the UK.
Approximately 62,000 NHS staff are EU nationals, this is around 5.6% of the total NHS workforce (12% of the NHS workforce state their nationality is not British.)
Around 12% of the NHS workforce is made up of immigrants, with 5% of these being EU Nationals.
However with the freedom of movement of EU citizens changing after Brexit, this may affect who can work in the NHS.
Teacher Notes:
Summary and key points to get across:
A large part of the NHS workforce is made up of immigrants and in particular immigrants from the EU.
If you are from the EU you can work in the UK without requiring a visa.
The UK recognises nursing and doctor qualifications from the EU, so people from the EU with these qualifications do not have to take additional exams to work in the UK.
Currently citizens who are from outside of the EU who are seeking to work in the NHS have to undergo additional tests such as language (particularly relating to medical terminology) whereas EU citizens do not have to take these tests. This may change once the UK leaves the EU.
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10. Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
Roberto – A Spanish nurse who works at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital in London
I have worked at this hospital for the last 3 years and I love it here. I am really worried for myself and for the hospital post Brexit. I don’t know if my nursing qualifications, which I got in Spain, are going to be valid once we leave, and I really don’t understand how the hospital will continue to run if staff from the EU aren’t allowed to work?
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11. Rupi– A doctor in a hospital in Manchester
Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
Rupi– A doctor in a hospital in Manchester
I am very confused when it comes to Brexit. I have many great colleagues who I work with from countries in the EU and I really hope that they are able to stay and work post Brexit. However, over the last decade we have really felt the pressure in our hospital. We have to deal with more and more patients, some of them from countries inside and outside of the EU, and we simply don’t have the resources or infrastructure to cope with this increase.
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12. Drogda – A porter in a hospital in Birmingham
Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
Drogda – A porter in a hospital in Birmingham
I came over from Lithuania 14 years ago with my family and have worked as a porter on night shifts in hospitals since then. I moved because I wanted a better quality of life for me and my family. I am classed as a low skilled labourer so I don’t even know whether I will be able to work after the UK leaves the EU. I feel like the UK’s media have tarnished immigrants like me. I am just a hard working person who saw that there was an opportunity for me to have a better life in the UK. Wouldn’t you do the same in my position?
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13. Political Parties on EU NHS staff post Brexit
Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
Political Parties on EU NHS staff post Brexit
The Labour party-  Guarantee existing rights for all EU nationals living in Britain, including those in the NHS
The Conservative party -  Seeking assurances for EU staff working in the NHS as part of Brexit negotiations
The SNP - Press the UK government to immediately protect EU staff working in the NHS’ rights to live and work in Scotland and the UK
The Liberal Democrats - Guarantee the rights of all NHS and social care service staff who are EU nationals to stay in the UK
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14. Where do you stand? Big impact on British society
Healthcare, Social Security and Brexit
Where do you stand?
Big impact on British society
Not sure of the impact on British society
Small impact on British society
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