Commenting on the announcement that NHS and care workers are to be exempt from paying the NHS surcharge, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:

“This is long overdue. The pandemic has shown the enormous contribution of overseas workers to our health and care system. They’re putting their lives on the line every day to keep us safe.

“It’s a moral injustice to ask migrant staff to make double the contribution of others and pay extra for the very services they help provide.

“This must also apply to the workers’ families. And the government should go further by removing the charge for all migrant workers.”