• The Home Office outlined the government's approach to EU citizens in the event of a no deal.
• It has previously been announced that the EU Settled Status Scheme will continue to apply in the event of a no deal, but this is only the case for EU citizens who are in the UK prior to exit day on the 29 March.
• If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, EU citizens arriving after 29 March will have the automatic right to stay in the UK for three months; and will need to apply for the three-year European temporary leave to remain status if they wish to stay (that application needs to take place within the initial three-month period); and at the end of the three years, need to make a further application under the new skills-based future immigration system.

Responding to the government's announcement of no deal arrangements for EU citizens, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

"This announcement only adds to the uncertainty faced by trusts as they look to recruit and retain the EU staff they need.

Given the scale of skills and staff shortages in health and social care we can not afford to put up new barriers that will deter these workers from choosing to live and work in the UK.

Saffron Cordery    Deputy Chief Executive

"Given the scale of skills and staff shortages in health and social care we can not afford to put up new barriers that will deter these workers from choosing to live and work in the UK.

"Ultimately it is patients and service users who will suffer if we can not attract and retain the staff we need.

Ultimately it is patients and service users who will suffer if we can not attract and retain the staff we need.

Saffron Cordery    Deputy Chief Executive

"The recent NHS long term plan acknowledged the scale of the workforce challenges facing the health service, and we are closely involved in detailed work that's under way to address these problems.

"But this approach to a no deal scenario would make that task even harder."