CONCERNS have been raised that Dorset could be faced with a major healthcare problem in the wake of Brexit negotiations.

A Freedom of Information request revealed that approximately one in seven doctors at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) are continental EU nationals.

Meanwhile at Poole Hospital, of 476 doctors, 395 are British, 32 are from the EU and 49 are non EU residents. At Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) of 482 doctors, 397 are British, 30 are from the EU and 55 are from non EU countries.

The concern about job security for non-UK national staff comes amid recent reports of a nationwide NHS recruitment crisis.

Figures also reveal DCH already has a 15 per cent shortfall in the number of doctors it employs and a further 10 per cent shortfall in nurses, Poole Hospital has a 7.1 per cent shortfall in doctors, a10 per cent shortfall in nurses and midwives and 8.9 per cent shortfall in healthcare assistants while Royal Bournemouth Hospital has a 5 per cent shortfall in doctors, 7 per cent shortfall in nurses and midwives and 9.9 per cent shortfall in healthcare assistants.

Dr Andy Stillman, from the campaign group West Dorset for Europe, said: “If our politicians do not negotiate the Brexit deal very carefully and sensitively, there could be major health problems in Dorset.

"Dorset County Hospital already has enough problems recruiting doctors without denying it access to continental Europe as well.

“We are constantly presented with a two-dimensional problem- hard or soft Brexit. I have a great regard for our hospital and its wonderful staff but our politicians are putting it in a tricky position.”

The current or latest known percentage of doctors employed by the Dorset County Hospital Foundation Trust who are non-UK nationals currently stands at 14 per cent.

At Royal Bournemouth Hospital 17.6 per cent of doctors are non-UK nationals and at Poole Hospital that figure is 17.2 per cent.

Of RBH's nurses and midwives, just over 20 per cent and 25 per cent of healthcare assistants are non-UK nationals and at Poole Hospital, 14.38 per cent of nurses and midwives are non-UK nationals and 13.53 per cent of healthcare assistants are non-UK nationals.

Staff shortfalls could mean the hospitals need to rely on costly agency staff- a bill which cost DCH £1m for nurses in 2015.

In previous years DCH has held recruitment days in European countries in a bid to fill posts.

A spokesperson for DCH said: “Our overseas nationals are an important part of our workforce, and we will do all we can to support them during any period of uncertainty. We are not planning any overseas recruitment campaigns this year – we are focussing our recruitment on the domestic labour market.”

A Poole Hospital spokesman said: “Poole Hospital values the significant contribution that colleagues from the EU and elsewhere make to patient care and we would like to confirm our continued support to all our staff during the current Brexit negotiations.”

RBH said it appreciated the roles all the staff play and have confirmed support to all staff since the referendum.

The figures

Poole Hospital

Doctors - total 476

British 395

EU 32

Non EU 49

Nurses and midwives - total 1120

British 959

EU 98

Non EU 63

Healthcare Assistants - total 517

British 447

EU 40

Non EU 30

Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Doctors - total 482

British 397

EU 30

Non EU 55

Nurses and midwives - total 1246

British 995

EU 144

Non EU 107

Healthcare Assistants - total 544

British 406

EU 79

Non EU 59