News

Farage plan could drive NHS workers out of UK

Published

6 months ago

September 22, 2025

Critics warn proposals would worsen staff shortages created by Brexit

NIGEL FARAGE has unveiled plans to overhaul Britain’s immigration system which could put thousands of NHS and care workers at risk of losing their right to stay in the UK.

The Reform UK leader said he would scrap indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and force all migrants to reapply for visas every five years under tougher conditions. Applicants would need to earn above the current skilled worker threshold of £35,800, prove advanced English language skills, and meet strict “good character” requirements.

Critics warn the policy could see hard-working but lower-paid staff – including nurses, carers, teaching assistants and hospital support workers – removed from the country despite years of service.

Brexit fallout

Staff shortages in the NHS and social care have already been made worse by Brexit. Before the 2016 referendum, thousands of nurses and doctors were recruited from EU countries each year. Since the end of free movement, numbers have fallen sharply, leaving gaps in key areas such as anaesthetics, paediatrics and psychiatry.

A University of Surrey study found that the drop in EU nurse recruitment has cost the NHS around £62m a year in extra emergency readmissions.

Human impact

A newly qualified nurse in Wales earns around £28,000 a year – well below the proposed threshold. Even with overtime, many NHS staff do not reach £35,800. Under Farage’s plan, a nurse in that position could lose their settled status and face removal from the UK, despite being desperately needed on hospital wards.

Care workers are even harder hit. The average salary in the sector is about £23,000, meaning almost all overseas staff would fall short. Teaching assistants, cleaners and porters who support frontline services would also fail to qualify.

Visa costs rise

On top of salary requirements, migrants already face some of the highest visa costs in the world. Applications for settlement currently cost £2,885 per person, with the immigration health surcharge adding £1,035 for each year of a visa. Families can face bills running into tens of thousands of pounds simply to maintain lawful status.

Farage’s plan would mean these charges have to be paid repeatedly every five years. His policy chief Zia Yusuf has also suggested “Trump-style” fees for skilled worker visas, raising fears of further increases.

Business and healthcare leaders have warned that piling costs and uncertainty onto essential staff could push many to leave at a time when the NHS is under huge pressure to cut waiting lists.

Government response

A Government spokesperson said: “Foreign nationals usually have to wait five years before claiming Universal Credit and we are looking at increasing this to 10 years. We inherited a broken welfare system and have already reduced the proportion of Universal Credit payments going to foreign nationals since last year.”

Charity

Car dealership smash cycling spin challenge target

Published

3 hours ago

March 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

STAFF at OC Davies used pedal power to cycle an incredible 453 miles as part of a fundraising event marking two major anniversaries.

The Cardigan-based dealership is celebrating 40 years as a Renault dealer in 2026, while the Wales Air Ambulance marked its 25th anniversary on St David’s Day (Mar 1).

To celebrate the milestones – and the launch of the new vehicle registration plate – the dealership held a community open day at its Cardigan site, raising £2,102 for the lifesaving charity.

As part of the event, staff and supporters took on a spin bike challenge to cycle the equivalent of 104 miles – the distance between OC Davies’ three dealerships in Cardigan, Neyland and Carmarthen.

However, the participants far exceeded expectations.

During the 12-hour challenge, which ran from 8:00am to 8:00pm, a total of 37 people took part and collectively cycled an impressive 453 miles.

Over the years, OC Davies has now raised more than £6,600 for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity.

Nicola Lewis from OC Davies said: “We are incredibly proud to have raised £2,102. This fantastic amount exceeded all our expectations and shows just how supportive our community has been.

“The success of the event has inspired us to keep the momentum going and continue raising money for Wales Air Ambulance throughout the rest of the year.

“We currently have an Easter egg lucky dip running in the dealership and we’re also planning to raise further funds later in the summer at some outdoor events we’ll be taking part in.”

More than 200 visitors attended the open day and around 900 tickets were sold for a grand raffle.

Prizes were donated by local businesses including The Cliff Hotel & Spa, Tom Samways Butchers, U Melt Me, Tonnau, Theatr Mwldan, Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, and The Queen’s Hall.

Additional prizes were also donated by the Scarlets and Swansea City FC.

Nicola added: “The open day was wonderfully supported by local businesses and members of the community, which helped make the event so special.

“We were overwhelmed by the generosity and support from businesses in Cardigan and beyond who kindly donated prizes for our grand raffle.”

The spin bikes used during the challenge were loaned by Neil Fulstow Fitness Coaching, with additional support from Clive Evans and Clive Davies.

The charity’s mascot Biggles also made an appearance during the day – even taking a turn on the DJ decks.

Emily Bell, Wales Air Ambulance’s Regional Fundraising Co-ordinator, said: “A huge congratulations to the staff at OC Davies, who smashed their original target while raising an incredible amount for our charity.

“It was a lovely open day which I was delighted to attend. OC Davies found a wonderful way to mark both anniversaries.

“Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £13 million every year to keep our helicopters flying and our rapid response vehicles on the road. Fundraisers like this help ensure we can continue to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most.”

Wales Air Ambulance is a consultant-led service delivering hospital-standard treatment at the scene of an incident.

Through its partnership with the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), NHS consultants and critical care practitioners can provide advanced treatment including anaesthesia, blood transfusions and minor surgical procedures before transporting patients to the most appropriate hospital.

As a pan-Wales service, its crews travel across the country to deliver lifesaving emergency care wherever it is needed.

For more information visit www.ocdavies.com.

Education

Tenby students compete in UK robotics challenge

Published

3 hours ago

March 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

STUDENTS from Ysgol Greenhill in Tenby have taken part in the FIRST Tech Challenge UK & Ireland competition, showcasing their engineering and computing skills at a national robotics event.

The Tenby Techno Team travelled to the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s School of Applied Computingwhere teams from across the UK and Ireland gathered to compete in the international robotics programme.

The competition challenges students to design, build and programme robots capable of completing tasks on a specialist arena, testing both technical ability and teamwork.

The Tenby team said they were proud to be competing and were supported during the event by former computing students Issac, Ieuan and Finley, who returned to help the team as volunteers.

Organisers of the programme say the FIRST Tech Challenge aims to inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while building practical problem-solving skills.

The team also thanked Valero Pembroke Refinery and Tenby Round Table for sponsoring the project, along with Marc Ingram, who provided advice and guidance during the build and preparation stages.

More updates from the competition are expected as the event progresses.

Charity

Expert warns cat owners not to buy lilies this Mother’s Day

Published

3 hours ago

March 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PET owners are being warned to avoid buying lilies this Mother’s Day after experts said the popular flowers can be fatal to cats.

The warning has been issued by the RSPCA ahead of Mothering Sunday (March 15), with the charity urging people to choose pet-friendly flowers instead.

RSPCA animal welfare expert Lauren Bennett said: “Flowers are a lovely gift for Mother’s Day, and like many people I enjoy receiving them whatever the occasion. But sadly some flowers and plants can be toxic to our pets, so it’s important to avoid these where animals are present.

“Lilies are a particular concern because they are so popular at this time of year, yet many people do not realise just how dangerous they are to cats. Even small amounts of petals can be deadly, and the leaves, pollen and even the water from the vase can pose a serious risk.

“It is vital that people understand lilies can be lethal to cats. Even cutting the stamens out once they have opened is not enough. A small amount of pollen can transfer to a cat’s fur and when they groom themselves, they can quickly become seriously ill.”

The charity says cat owners can help prevent accidental poisoning by choosing alternative flowers when buying bouquets this weekend.

Lauren added: “Cats can suffer terribly after lily poisoning and it is heartbreaking for owners to witness. Thankfully it is easy to avoid. We all want to treat mums this Mother’s Day, but if they are also cat mums, please do not buy them lilies.”

The RSPCA also warned that other plants including daffodils, tulips, holly and hyacinths can be toxic to cats and dogs.

Even flowers considered non-toxic can still cause stomach upset if eaten, so the charity advises keeping all plants and bouquets well out of reach of pets.

The charity added that chocolate poisoning remains the most commonly reported type of animal poisoning, and people are being urged to keep Mother’s Day treats away from curious pets.

Lauren said: “If you suspect that your pet has eaten chocolate, contact your vet immediately for advice. Your vet will want to know how much chocolate your pet has eaten and what type it was. If possible, keep the packaging and have your pet’s weight to hand.”

Signs of possible poisoning in pets can include depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, breathing difficulties, twitching or seizures.