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!

@MissyB1 You really don't get it, do you.

The presence of Sudanese nationals on an evacuation flight would put everyone on that flight in more danger. It would be illegal, and it's completely irrelevant who they work for.

As are dogs in Afghanistan.

We just seem to retain the right to take doctors from anywhere for our needs. We don’t care about anyone needing care in Sudan.

Erm no. We should be improving their conditions, not giving them a free pass over other humans. Or all that useless clapping.
You're not the only one with immediate family who's a doctor (or are doctors themselves!)

This. Also we have more nationals than other European countries over there, so obviously more to evacuate.

I am embarrassed to be British. Evacuation in Afghanistan with people left to die and now this.

Well it's people's free choice as to where they want to work. Can't force them to stay somewhere they don't want to. Quite a lot also go to the Gulf states, from my country (SouthEast Asia) scrub nurses work there for a few years and have enough to buy a house upon return.

Reading this article (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/british-doctor-sudan-khartoum-evacuation-visa-b2328746.html)

It seems to be a question of who can pull the most strings, as one of the doctors allowed to evacuate is not only a retiree (so, you, know would have been one in the days when the NHS was still good) but has also been allowed to bring his elderly mother. Which is very difficult to do for anybody else in the U.K in the same situation.

I don't think they are announcing what's possible publicly. Again, only for those who have the right connections ahem ahem

A doctor is paid significantly more than my family member who is in the British forces and evacuating people from Sudan.

Have some compassion for those of us who have family there putting their own lives at risk to get people out who were told weeks and weeks ago not to go there.

Thank you.

Doctors are not commodities to be 'put' where you want them. They are human beings with lives.

That’s the international law on consulate assistance to include evacuation of nationals. If you’re not a citizen of Sudan, your embassy should be evacuating you not the embassy of wherever you live as an expat.

How so? I have seen the photos of those evacuated so far and it’s been a rainbow of skin colours because you don’t have to be white to have a British passport.

I know they cannot be forced to work at home but we seem to put our needs above others’ needs. I would have thought some would stay. I guess it really is about money.

I am amazed how many people went to Sudan recently. Clearly taking no motive of advice. 4000 was mentioned a few days ago. Other European countries had hundreds.

“Was it against international law when dogs were evacuated ahead of people from Afghanistan? Oh no that was fine….”
That wasn’t part of the governments evacuations, that was a charity with a private charter jet.

I have always thought it a bit immoral at the employer level to poach doctors trained at developing countries' expense for our NHS and leaving their home countries lacking. However I can see why the doctors would want to move abroad for better pay and working conditions. Also it's not that much different from UK trained doctors going off to Australia/NZ in large numbers currently for much better pay and conditions. If they are treated well, they are more likely to stay.

Dogs don't tend to be citizens of any country so there isn't the same legal issues.

Mumsnet really hates dogs these days.

And BTW many people do stressful, demanding and difficult jobs. The stresses might be different the demands might be different, but it still takes a toll on the employees lives. The only difference is that no one actually applauds them for doing their jobs and in many cases they are openly criticised and abused.

As we, as a state, pay the lion’s share of training every doctor, we maybe should require them to work here or pay the state contribution back. It’s vastly more than £9000 pa student fees. That might actually ensure we take students who are not just in it for the money. As for overseas doctors, it’s not clear who trained them. Possibly we did but they are all selling their skills to the highest bidder. With a war going on it seems odd that a caring profession jumps ship. Why were they in Sudan anyway right now?

Irrelevant, but no, we just love them too much to think that everyone should be allowed to have them without taking responsibility.

Most people would concur that human lives are worth more than dogs lives. Nothing to do with hating dogs 🙄

Well, the fact they are not UK citizens but residents, possibly recruited by the NHS to work in the UK on visa's, might indicate they were not trained at a discount by the UK tax payer.

As for making Doctors pay back fees or be required to work for the NHS etc, that would lead to less people wanting to be Doctors and would force them to seek training elsewhere.

How about paying them and giving them decent working conditions? so they don't leave the UK.

If Australia Canada can pay so much more, why can't the UK?

There are still thousands of actual British citizens left there and a Sudanese person got one of their seats. And do you seriously think its a coincidence that an evacuation flight was fired upon today?

And actually OP, the more you say the worse a human being your sound - doctors are worth more than other people? I seriously pray that the ridiculous knee jerk emotive responses that have led to one Sudanese doctor being evacuated over others that had a lawful right to be repatriated doesn't lead to potentially hundreds of deaths of the people left behind. Or our troops.

I'm actually quite happy that dogs be left behind.

And I love my dog. But no. We get British citizenship out and citizens of other countries if we can.

No human is worth more than another (terrible criminals excepted) but that uk has a duty to bring home it's citizens. If there is space, then citizens of other countries should be accommodated but I do not want my family member putting their life at risk for a dog or a cat or even a person who is not a citizen , unless all British citizens have been evacuated.

And I'll say again. They're paid a lot less than a doctor.

Fuck! The weird inverted snobbery/hate for doctors, oh and the xenophobia on here, does mumsnet no favours. To be honest that’s me done, some of the posts on here disgust and depress me. I will leave you to it.

Suella would be proud that’s for sure.

Whoosh right over your head that dogs don't have same legal issues as people who are citizens of country they are in. You can't repatriate Sudan people if they are in Sudan.

I don't hate doctors.

I've a family member who is one of them too.

But there's no way a doctor deserves a space on a plane just on the basis of the job they do.

Anyone who went to Sudan post the warnings not to go is an absolute spoon.

Clearly, you have misunderstood my sentiments completely! But that is probably my fault for not being able to express my views coherently. This is the first thread I have ever initiated - and it has been interesting to see the way people debate. It is a shame that so many take an ad hominem approach to discussion - a sure way to close them down and stop people engaging in a productive, self-reflective way.