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

[Raggletagglegypsy]

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!

Yes I believe FCO advice has been not to travel there, so they were taking a risk travelling there for a holiday and should have had an emergency plan. How come all of the children filmed were not in school?

Exactly whose instructions do you imagine those civil servants are acting on?

People are allowed to want to visit their relatives for an important religious festival. Are we really such a heartless nation that we will say that we're happy for them to be left in danger just because our government is too bloody inefficient to get them out? It's really pretty shameful that the Germans have been rescuing our citizens because our government's efforts were so pathetic.

@MissyB1 I did not miss either of those facts. They are still not British nationals and removing them would still be against international law and would still potentially cause problems both now and in the future.

Plus, they chose to go back, knowing the situation and the issues they could face. No, we should not risk our soldiers or citizens for them.

Because they went out there doing the school holidays which only finished last Friday and haven't been able to get out because, errm, there's a war happening?

Really? Your blood is boiling that REPATRIATION flights are only for people who can be REPATRIATED?
It's disgusting to not break international laws?

Are you sure?

How can it be against international law to help people who want to leave the country to do so?

Because they are citizens of that country, legally we can't.

It really is that.

Nice point, MissyB1...and we have a government that has shown that it doesn't care about breaking international law when it suits them.

There are rules in war. And one of them is letting foreign nationals escape, but they can't take nationals of the country with them.

Half of Sudan wants to leave the country, they can't get on the flights either.

Because it isn't that simple, there are laws and also diplomatic procedures.

The NHS is really irrelevant in this discussion it's just being used for emotive blackmail.

@CarolSlinger agree 100%!
They knew the risks but still went, now our troops are being put at risk due to feckless people.

There could also be the argument that our first world NHS and our needs should be secondary to the needs of the Sudanese people and Sudanese doctors helping in their own country right now. But no. We want it all. Our NHS is more important. We are more needy. It’s better they help their own citizens.

Would you be so worked up if it was a man who worked in the local convenience store? Because I don't think that you would be.

What a load of hyperbole from flag wavers on this thread.

Update - the doctor in question has now been evacuated. So ways and means after all eh?

@StorminaStarmug Thank you for the update - that is excellent news! Glad they were able to bend the rules (and break whatever international law in the process!)🙄Let's hope common sense prevails with similar cases!

Except the full story of who is evacuating him and why he is being evacuated is still to come out, so we don't know the full story yet just like the OPs first comment.

I feel more sorry for the other poor sods without as much publicity (or maybe the means to bribe their way through)

*stuck there without

But only doctors don't want any of those scruffy bin man or food processors do we, because only doctors count.

Doctors are not saints, they are paid employees. They are not more or less valuable and the rules applied to them should be no different to anyone else.

This frothing at the mouth hysteria has to stop. If non- national doctors are given preference, who will be next?

@Againstmachine this is a quote by the doctor straight from the BBC website. (Apologies if the lack of cloak and dagger disappoints) ...

Earlier, the Foreign Office had said it was prioritising UK nationals and those in Dr Babiker's situation needed to make their own way to the UK......He (the doctor) credited the public attention his story received with the apparent change in policy.
"I got so much support from my colleagues at the hospital, from friends.... everyone knew the case," the Manchester Royal Infirmary doctor told the BBC.

Regardless of what the press and MNers and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all think, any evacuation can only take place with the permission of whoever is currently in charge in Sudan. Planes can only land and take off if allowed to by the Sudanese.

Countries currently are being permitted to evacuate their own nationals, and by agreement, nationals of other non-Sudanese countries.

Not one person can be evacuated if the local Sudanese in charge do not permit it. Not one plane can take off without permission. If a plane tries to leave with anyone that the locals do not think should leave, it is likely to be stopped. Trying to remove Sudanese nationals from the country, regardless of where they may consider they live, however important randoms in another country may consider them to be, may jeopodise the entire evacuation. For everybody.

The situation is very volatile. Planes may be prevented from leaving at any moment, for any reason. The international authorities evacuating people have to be very, very careful to comply with local and international regulations and agreements. But speed is also necessary.

The frothing at the mouth seems to be all yours!

Whilst I feel for the individuals, and they should be helped if possible, they are not British Citizens and I’m not sure why having employment in the NHS entitles them to special treatment?

It’s a job, which pays a lot better than jobs available in Sudan, they’re not doing it because they’re good Samaritans. The UK gov should either rescue EVERY non British national with residency over there or none of them. Working for the NHS doesn’t make you some kind of saint

Well, regardless of the 'morally superior' tone of some, I think that doctors are worthy of being valued more than many roles - I know which job I would find more demanding and stressful (and I speak as somebody who has a son who is a doctor - and children who have chosen other professions). Doctors are not adequately valued in terms of remuneration - therefore, at the very least, we should be expressing our appreciation and gratitude in other ways.