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<p>The Government responded swiftly to the fast-moving and challenging events in Afghanistan,
including supporting the largest and fastest evacuation in recent history. We can
be proud as a country we helped over 15,000 people to safety from Afghanistan in August
2021 and we continue to do all we can to enable those who are eligible to relocate
to the UK through the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy and Afghan Citizens
Resettlement Scheme.</p><p>The Department of Health and Social Care is also working
with DWP to develop pathways to support Afghans who are already in the UK to access
roles in the health and social care sector.</p><p>On the issue of NHS staffing gaps,
the Government has done a number of things to ensure the NHS has suitable resources.
We are on schedule to deliver 50,000 more nurses by the end of this Parliament to
deliver a sustainable long term workforce supply. With the National Health Service
and Health Education England, we have established a programme to improve retention
and support return to practice, invest in and diversify training and increase ethical
and sustainable international recruitment. We have also made £2 billion made available
in 2021/22 and a further £8 billion from 2022 to 2025 to increase activity, tackle
backlogs in elective care and reduce waiting times for patients.</p><p>In August 2020,
the Government launched the Health and Care Visa which provides for fast-track entry,
reduced application fees and dedicated support. Health and Care Visa applicants are
also exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge. These benefits also extend
to Health and Care Visa applicants dependents.</p>
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