Theresa May urged to introduce ‘bold and broad’ reforms to protect foreign staff working in the health service NHS

THERESA May is being urged to assure foreign staff working for the NHS that their jobs are safe post-Brexit.

Laying out a blueprint for Britain’s health service outside the European Union, NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said it will continue to rely on professionals from abroad.

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This is despite initiatives aimed at increasing the number of NHS workers from the UK.

Mr Stevens is calling on the new Prime Minister to institute "bold and broad reforms" that include protecting the rights of Europeans working in hospitals and surgeries across the country.

But in the past Mrs May has said she would not guarantee that EU nationals living in the UK could stay after we leave the bloc.

Mr Stevens said attempts to curb immigration could trigger the closure of hospitals and care homes that have relied on nearly 130,000 European nurses, doctors and other staff for years.

Writing in he said: "As the largest employer in Europe, the NHS needs to do a better job training and looking after staff.

"New apprenticeships can help many 'left-behind' communities alienated from modern Britain.

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“Even then we're still going to need committed professionals from abroad.

"Australian-style immigration points systems all admit nurses, doctors and other skilled experts.

“It should be uncontroversial to provide early reassurance to foreign NHS employees about their continued welcome."

Mr Stevens said the NHS also faces major challenges from childhood obesity, access to GPs, falling capital investment and inefficiencies.

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Allowing childhood obesity to go unchecked will cost the NHS billions in future, while poor diet is now the biggest avoidable cause of ill health.

The Government needed to "urgently" draw up an "activist child obesity strategy" with comprehensive action on promotions and advertising, he said.

Meanwhile the provision of care across the NHS needs a "major overhaul", with access to GPs at its heart, Mr Stevens said.