"One solid figure is that 27 per cent of health professionals in the UK were born abroad, suggesting that the NHS at least benefits from immigration"
And you think that is a good thing Emma?

No Keith I have the same reservations as you - a similar situation exists in North America I believe

"Stealing From the Poor to Care for the Rich"
NY Times December 14, 2005

Because American-trained doctors usually preferred university hospitals or metropolitan areas
Foreign-trained doctors who qualified tended to stay in the community, where they worked hard. Many who left went to other small communities and small hospitals where there was a need.
But in all this time, I noticed that virtually none of these doctors returned home

our gain was the developing world's loss

According to a study published in October in The New England Journal of Medicine, 25 percent of all doctors in the United States are foreign medical school graduates. A large majority - 60 percent - come from the developing world, where doctors are scarce and countries are being destroyed by AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases."

The author, a retired doctor, concludes
'The United States and other Western countries have not only ignored the appalling lack of qualified doctors in undeveloped countries, but because of self-interest have perpetuated this problem. We should resolve our shortage by ourselves, without stealing doctors from countries that desperately need them.'

What solutions would you offer Keith?

Maybe better financial backing for students from all backgrounds to undertake a long and expensive training?
More funds available to reward qualified staff who opt to remain in their own country?

Unfortunately we DO live in a world of economic migration, in 2005 it was reported that Britain has lost more skilled workers to the global "brain drain" than any other country, according to a report by the World Bank.

"More than 1.44 million graduates have left the UK to look for more highly paid jobs in countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia.
That far outweighs 1.26 million immigrant graduates in the UK, leaving a net "brain loss" of some 200,000 people."