A few weeks ago, Mrs Patricia Watson came to see me. She was very concerned about the waste of money, the waste of valuable nursing resources, and the appalling way in which the nursing profession was being treated. She has valiantly gone around and put together a petition with more than 1,000 signatures, in a very short period of time. The local health organisations agree with the petition. The Government really need to think again.
The petition states:
The petition of the people of Stoke-on-Trent,
Declares that we object to overseas doctors and nurses being forced to leave the UK after a six year period if their pay is below the amount stipulated by the government given that we the taxpayers have paid for additional training for these doctors and nurses and our NHS is at risk of collapse through staff shortages.
The petitioners therefore urge the House of Commons to reverse this policy.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P001543]