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NHS Doctors refused evacuation from Sudan by British Government - DISGUSTING!

304 replies

Raggletagglegypsy · 28/04/2023 08:55

Shameful and shocking that NHS doctors should be turned away from evacuation flights from Sudan, simply because they have British residency, but are not British nationals. Just watching Newsnight on catchup and I was so enraged that I couldn't keep watching. I really hope that this matter has been put right since Newsnight aired yesterday. A medic who served the British people at Manchester Royal Infirmary through the pandemic was escorted out of the airport where he had arrived for evacuation, wanting to return to his work as a registrar. There are apparently over 20 doctors known to be in a similar position (having visited families for Eid - many with young children). The doctor who was interviewed described the situation as "disappointing" - I would use stronger vocabulary.
WE SHOULD ALL BE RAISING THIS WITH OUR MPs TODAY!

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Greenshake · 28/04/2023 08:57

This whole thing is rapidly descending into the Afghanistan fiasco all over again. It’s shameful and embarrassing. I could not believe it when I heard it, to be honest, but it does appear to be true.

bunnyrabbitsandbutterflies · 28/04/2023 08:59

I don't think it matters what career path anyone over there has chosen. They're all human beings.

Thedogscollar · 28/04/2023 08:59

God this shambles of a government have so much to be ashamed of.
They are inept in every department.

SweetSakura · 28/04/2023 09:01

It's awful, I feel really embarrassed we would treat them like that

Gtsr443 · 28/04/2023 09:03

Appalling but unsurprising in Braverman's Britain.
I saw the incredible job the French military were doing in helping evacuate all nationalities via Djibouti. That used to be us before insular dickheadery became the norm.

morelippy · 28/04/2023 09:03

I don't agree doctors should be treated favourably to anyone else.

Doagooddeed · 28/04/2023 09:06

morelippy · 28/04/2023 09:03

I don't agree doctors should be treated favourably to anyone else.

They have UK residency rights and have been paying tax here in the UK.

Wrong coloured skin as far as the UK and its Govt is concerned.

Raggletagglegypsy · 28/04/2023 09:06

Presumably, this could be a "quick fix", if there is a will - the Government should intervene straight away and build in flexibility within their own silly rules. Goodness knows how many similarly shameful evacuation refusals are playing out. I am honestly so cross.

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TheOtherHotstepper · 28/04/2023 09:07

Good enough to work in our crumbling NHS, so presumably have clearance to work here, but not good enough to be rescued from a war zone.

Is this what we have become?

AngelicInnocent · 28/04/2023 09:07

Honestly, this crisis has been brewing for months. British nationals were advised to make arrangements to leave over 8 weeks ago, the foreign office has been advising not to travel there for a long time.

Whilst I agree that this government is generally shit, I don't think this is on them. At some point, people have to take responsibility for themselves and follow the official advice.

Also, the civil service is not the same as the government and in the first instance, they are the ones deciding that these doctors cannot board flights.

Ingrowncrotchhair · 28/04/2023 09:08

TheOtherHotstepper · 28/04/2023 09:07

Good enough to work in our crumbling NHS, so presumably have clearance to work here, but not good enough to be rescued from a war zone.

Is this what we have become?

Yes

interpreters for the military in Afghanistan and Iraq went through similar, with the added problem of persecution and murder awaiting them if they were not evacuated. It’s not new, in terms of British behaviour.

QuizzlyBear · 28/04/2023 09:09

This inhumane, racist, xenophobic version of 'Britain' is one I'm ashamed to be associated with.

Roll on the next general election!

TokyoSushi · 28/04/2023 09:10

Yes agree that it's really bad. People were over there visiting for Eid which is understandable. If they have a job and a life in the UK, Doctor or not, we should bring them back. It's 'just' a flight and safe passage that we're offering them really, then they'll go back to their house and their job as before. It's incredibly mean spirited not to help this relatively small number of people who are contributing to British society.

Raggletagglegypsy · 28/04/2023 09:10

morelippy · 28/04/2023 09:03

I don't agree doctors should be treated favourably to anyone else.

But they are normally resident and working in the NHS in Britain - just popped back to see family - then they get caught up in this. They will have shifts they are due back for in hospitals and GP surgeries back here - this is not about them being treated more favourably, it is just about doing what is obviously the right thing!

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Doagooddeed · 28/04/2023 09:11

AngelicInnocent · 28/04/2023 09:07

Honestly, this crisis has been brewing for months. British nationals were advised to make arrangements to leave over 8 weeks ago, the foreign office has been advising not to travel there for a long time.

Whilst I agree that this government is generally shit, I don't think this is on them. At some point, people have to take responsibility for themselves and follow the official advice.

Also, the civil service is not the same as the government and in the first instance, they are the ones deciding that these doctors cannot board flights.

Its the UK Govt that has said UK Passport Holders ONLY.

Civil Servants follow the rules laid down by ministers.

Its been reported that travel to Sudan was ok so long as on a guided trip and/or certain areas not visited.

The fighting between the two factions caught everyone by surprise as we can see by the current rush to get diplomates etc out.

Shinyandnew1 · 28/04/2023 09:11

Honestly, it’s appalling.

They were good enough to staff British hospitals during endless Covid shifts, but not good enough to help back into the country.

Some of the comments on Twitter are dreadful-saying that he shouldn’t have been going on holiday to war zones (visiting family for Eid?!) and if he was a good doctor he’d be wanting to stay where he is and help any injured Sudanese people. This man has a job at a hospital in Manchester and has a shift Monday he needs to return for, so he can pay his bills like the rest of us.

I wonder what some of the people writing these vile comments will say if they have a hospital appointment Monday that’s cancelled because of him not being there.

Silverrocks · 28/04/2023 09:11

bunnyrabbitsandbutterflies · 28/04/2023 08:59

I don't think it matters what career path anyone over there has chosen. They're all human beings.

Yes they are, but good enough to plaster the gaps in a failing and toxic healthservice, not good enough to bring back to the country they've been working and contributing to society in. It's disgusting.

AngryBirdsNoMore · 28/04/2023 09:12

AngelicInnocent · 28/04/2023 09:07

Honestly, this crisis has been brewing for months. British nationals were advised to make arrangements to leave over 8 weeks ago, the foreign office has been advising not to travel there for a long time.

Whilst I agree that this government is generally shit, I don't think this is on them. At some point, people have to take responsibility for themselves and follow the official advice.

Also, the civil service is not the same as the government and in the first instance, they are the ones deciding that these doctors cannot board flights.

No, the foreign secretary sets the rules for who can get on the flights. This same policy was in place in the covid evacuations. British nationals and their families only. It was Raab and Johnson who put this in place. It isn’t the fault of the civil service.

morelippy · 28/04/2023 09:12

I didn't say they shouldn't be helped. I said they shouldn't be treated any differently to anyone else.

Being a doctors doesn't make you more special than any other mother, father, husband wife

AngryBirdsNoMore · 28/04/2023 09:13

I agree that people should have followed travel advice though and most shouldn’t have been in the country.

Deadpalm · 28/04/2023 09:13

Wasn't it always case of getting out just your nationals? I am not British, but I reside here. If I am somewhere and need to be evacuated I would have to go to my embassy, not British one. Similarly my embassy wouldn't lift my DH who would have to go to his.

Testina · 28/04/2023 09:14

“A medic who served the British people at Manchester Royal Infirmary through the pandemic”

Served? You make it sound like a charitable act and not a paid career choice.

Would you have posted this about a British resident Deliveroo biker who had been in Sudan for Eid?

What’s the issue here - that you think residency should be equal priority as nationals, or that you want to prioritise doctors?

If you were there yourself, as a British National, would you expect to be evacuated before those who’d gained residency?

This is not Afghanistan again, where people had put their lives in danger to support the British involvement.

There are British nationals in Sudan who haven’t been evacuated yet. Which of them should be pushed down the list to make way for the doctors who travelled there after foreign office advice not to do so?

I absolutely want to be a National of a country that gets straight in there and brings out all its nationals, its residency holder, and then pitches in with whoever else needs to come out, whatever nationality. I want to feel proud to be British, that that is what Britain does.

But I don’t think a doctor who isn’t a National who chose to travel contrary to official advice should be a higher priority just because they’re a doctor, and I wonder if your posted has he been a hospital cleaner.

DuncinToffee · 28/04/2023 09:14

AngelicInnocent · 28/04/2023 09:07

Honestly, this crisis has been brewing for months. British nationals were advised to make arrangements to leave over 8 weeks ago, the foreign office has been advising not to travel there for a long time.

Whilst I agree that this government is generally shit, I don't think this is on them. At some point, people have to take responsibility for themselves and follow the official advice.

Also, the civil service is not the same as the government and in the first instance, they are the ones deciding that these doctors cannot board flights.

The British ambassador and his deputy didn't seem too worried about the situation as they were holidaying in the UK

^The Times newspaper reported officials had believed violence was unlikely during the lead up to Eid, the Muslim festival which marks the end of the month-long fasting period of Ramadan.^

titchy · 28/04/2023 09:14

Deadpalm · 28/04/2023 09:13

Wasn't it always case of getting out just your nationals? I am not British, but I reside here. If I am somewhere and need to be evacuated I would have to go to my embassy, not British one. Similarly my embassy wouldn't lift my DH who would have to go to his.

The issue is that they do reside in the UK. It absolutely should be UK passport holders and those resident in the UK that are evacuated.

BeginningToLookALotLike · 28/04/2023 09:15

Meanwhile our PM is welcoming Giorgia Meloni. Sad