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Theresa May has been accused of refusing to ease visa restrictions on skilled workers to enable more overseas doctors to work in the NHS.

The prime minister “refused to budge” over calls to lift a cap on skilled workers. Health service bosses warned that limits on the number of visas issued to doctors from countries outside the European Economic Area were contributing to rota gaps and delays in patients receiving care.

NHS Employers said there had been 400 blocked visas since December.

The London Evening Standard reported that Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, and Amber Rudd, the former home secretary, had urged Mrs May to lift the quota for cases such as doctors, while Greg Clark, business secretary, wanted more exceptions for companies facing shortages