Dedicated Mersey Care NHS workers are at risk of dismissal and deportation through no fault of their own.
From 31st December 2026, the Home Office will no longer allow sponsorship in the Healthcare Assistant role, as the job code will be removed from the skilled worker shortage list.
Many migrant workers on student, graduate or dependent visas have been working at the Trust under the promise of job security at the point of visa renewal. The Trust position was that staff should wait until 3 months before visa expiry before requesting sponsorship, and now this has changed over night.
The Trust is telling colleagues they can no longer work at the Trust once their visa expires, and that they do not have the provision to sponsor those that need it. Instead of taking urgent action now to protect our colleagues’ jobs, the Trust is informing them they won’t be sponsoring them before that deadline.
Many workers remain stranded, unable to plan their futures, with the risk of deportation weighing over their head on every shift.
Mersey Care has already lost staff because of this issue. The Trust can’t afford to lose more.
There is no reason for the Trust not to protect these workers, who have given so much to colleagues, patients, and their families.
Mersey Care are now saying the Home Office hasn't provided them with enough certificates to protect these workers. Other Trusts across the country are not saying the same.
Take action today to protect dedicated workers at Mersey Care. Write to Sheena Cumiskey (Chair of the Mersey Care Board) and Trish Bennett (CEO, Mersey Care) to ask them to urgently take action to request sponsorship certificates and issue sponsorship to all affected staff.
There is no time for excuses, we need to see urgent action to protect our colleagues, and those serving our community in the NHS.
