24/04/2026
Migrant Health Care Assistants (HCAs) have worked tirelessly for many years at Countess of Chester Hospital (COCH)—but have been stranded since last summer’s immigration sponsorship threshold change left their annual pay just £63 below the required salary for sponsorship to stay and work in the UK.
On April 1, the NHS pay rise lifted these workers’ salaries to now meet the £25,000 threshold, and the NHS has publicly announced that band 3 HCAs are now eligible for sponsorship.
There is now no reason for the Trust not to protect these workers, who have given so much to COCH colleagues, patients, and their families. But inaction by the Trust has already resulted in some highly appraised staff leaving. For months, the Trust delayed finding any solution to protect the jobs of these workers. Some couldn’t risk enduring such uncertainty and were forced to find jobs elsewhere.
Earlier this month, migrant workers got organised and marched on a board meeting to get answers. In response to this action, the Trust offered applications for sponsorship for workers whose visa expiry date is due to run out in the next 3 months. This mirrors similar situations across Manchester, in trusts including the Manchester Foundation Trust and the Northern Care Alliance, where trust leaders also practice a policy of only sponsoring workers whose visas are three months from expiration.
However, those whose expiry date runs out after this short period remain in limbo, and COCH workers are calling for an end to this policy.
👉 On April 25 and 26, write to the Chief Executive Jane Tomkinson, Chief People Officer Vicki Wilson and the Chair Of The Board Neil Large to ask them to provide sponsorship to all those at risk of losing their jobs.
🔗https://action.unison.org.uk/page/189846/action/1
