Trust supports its EU staff
10/12/2018
This article is more than five years old.
Oxford University Hospitals is to pay the settled status application fees of all EU staff who want to stay in the UK after Brexit.
Ever since the EU referendum result was announced, the Trust has been clear that European staff are greatly valued members of the OUH workforce.
Now Chief Executive, Dr Bruno Holthof, who is himself Belgian, has written personally to all EU staff employed by OUH to let them know that the Trust will cover the costs of their applications for settled status to continue to live and work in the UK after Brexit.
The Trust will pay the £65 application fee (£95 in gross salary terms) if staff employed by OUH wish to apply for settled status.
Dr Holthof says: "Like me, more than 1,500 staff working for Oxford University Hospitals are nationals of other European nations.
"As the UK's planned withdrawal from the EU - Brexit - on 29 March 2019 draws closer, I want to let you know that, regardless of Brexit, we want you to stay with us at OUH. The contribution of staff from the EU, and indeed all over the world, is one of the strengths of the NHS in general and OUH specifically.
"Regardless of Brexit, we want all EU nationals currently working at OUH to stay with us and the Trust Board's decision to cover the costs of the application fee for settled status is a symbol of our commitment to our valued colleagues."
Settled status means there is no time limit on how long EU citizens, who have been living here continuously for five years, can remain in the UK. This is also known as indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
In advance of the UK's planned exit from the EU on 29 March 2019, the UK government has committed to protect the rights of EU citizens and their family members currently living in the UK. This includes the right to live here, work here, and access public services such as healthcare and benefits.
The Home Office is testing the EU Settlement Scheme through a series of pilots ahead of the public launch on 30 March 2019. The second phase of the pilot, which runs until 21 December, includes NHS staff.
This pilot is testing the application process that EU citizens and their family members will use when the scheme opens fully next year.
Feedback will be used to make improvements to the process before the EU Settlement Scheme fully launches to the public.