Theresa May urged to issue 50,000 passports to foreign NHS workers 
UK prime minister Theresa May has been urged to issue passports to the 50,000 foreign staff working in the National Health Service (NHS) to protect it from catastrophe if uncertainty regarding citizenship forces them to leave. The Institute for Public Policy Research has revealed its solution ahead of data, set to be published by the Office for National Statistics, which is expected to show one in 10 NHS doctors are from another EU country. May has said she will not guarantee the status of EU workers in the UK until those of Britons' living in the EU are settled.

One in 10 NHS doctors are from another EU country but it's feared many will leave after the PM refused to rule out expelling workers without British citizenship

Exclusive: Theresa May told to save NHS by giving British passports to 50,000 EU doctors and nurses

The NHS risks collapse unless all 50,000 EU health workers are given British ­passports, Theresa May will be warned this week.

Figures to be released on Thursday are expected to show a huge hike in EU workers applying for citizenship after the PM refused to rule out expelling people without it.

But it is feared many doctors and nurses will leave rather than face uncertainty.

Think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research will publish its ­solution to coincide with the figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Report author Chris Murray said: “If even half of EU NHS workers go, there will be a public health emergency.

Doctors and nurses have skills marketable worldwide.”

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One in 10 NHS doctors is from another EU country. Under the IPPR scheme, they, and other health workers, would be offered citizenship.

Its report will say: “Acquiring British nationality is tougher than ever. Reform is urgently needed.”

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Mrs May will not guarantee the rights of the three million EU citizens in the UK until ­Brussels rules on Brits living in Europe.

Locum doctors on £1k a day

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Stand-in doctors routinely earn more than £1,000 a day to plug dire NHS staff shortages.

Hourly rates of £120 to £150 are offered by agencies as the annual bill for locums nudges £4billion.

One doctor was paid nearly £500,000 last year.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has promised to clamp down on the fees.

The shadow health secretary Diane Abbott said: “It’s a false economy to not fill vacancies then pay more for locums.”