Meeting Wes Streeting MP: A Turning Point for Displaced Care Workers?
- Krystle Wong
- Sep 12
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 16
This week, our team at Tresacare – Liz, Prem, and Taiwo – had the privilege of meeting with Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for the second time. This time, to present the case for displaced international care workers in the UK.
To this day, it still feels absolutely surreal to us that he not only knows about Tresacare, but remembers us, understands the need for us to exist, and recognises the impact our work is making.
We only had 15 minutes slotted in, but we had so much ground to cover and Wes was listening so intently, that we got a full 25 minutes in the end!
Our highlights below:
So present, even on Cabinet reshuffle day
The meeting took place on the very day of the Cabinet reshuffle – an understandably distracting backdrop. Yet Wes was so present with us, so focused on the issue at hand. At the start of the meeting, he apologised upfront for needing to check his phone intermittently during our meeting due to the reshuffle. He made a joke about feeling uncertain if he would have a job or be in the same role at the end of the day.
All things considered, we are so grateful that Wes stayed so engaged and listened fully. He engaged deeply, asked thoughtful questions, and emphasised that any data we can share will strengthen the policy case.
Bringing frontline voices into the room
We shared with Wes our policy paper and our latest short documentary, featuring the raw voices of displaced international care workers. After watching, Wes looked directly at Liz and said, “Really good video.” He seemed moved, as if the workers’ words hit hard. That moment mattered to us – it meant the stories reached the very top.
At the end, Wes said he would share our paper and video with the Home Office.
Commitments gathered
We gathered commitment to organise a roundtable – to be co-hosted with Citizens UK – alongside other organisations, including UNISON, National Association of Care & Support Workers (NACAS), South East Social Care Alliance (SESCA), and the Care Workers Charity, where we are seeing the beginnings of a broader movement. More and more people are recognising the urgency of this cause – and want to get involved.
Besides declaring that he would share our paper and video with the Home Office, Wes also committed to introducing us to Baroness Louise Casey and the Casey Commission – an independent UK government initiative tasked with reforming adult social care and laying the foundations for a future National Care Service.
Ever since our first meeting with Wes last year, he's followed through on introductions to the Department of Health & Social Care, and to Redbridge Council. Importantly, everything he has said he would do so far, he has done.
Why this matters
Supporting the 40,000 displaced international care workers is not just a moral issue. It is a practical workforce solution. Even if every displaced care worker were rehired, the UK would still face a gaping shortfall in staff as there are currently 131,000 vacancies in care.
Supporting them is not charity – it is common sense.
The message from the frontline is clear: displaced care workers are still here, still trained, and still ready to work. They deserve more than abandonment. By acting now, government can protect vulnerable workers, stabilise the care system, and demonstrate that the UK values those who came to care for us.
The simple truth is this:
The NHS needs social care.
Social care needs care workers.
And displaced care workers are ready and waiting to contribute.
This meeting marked a step forward in ensuring their voices are not only heard but acted upon at the highest levels. We left feeling hopeful, energised, and determined to keep pushing this movement forward.
Next up: our meeting with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) next week!
Special thanks to everyone who made this possible!
This advocacy project could not have been possible without the contributions of Liz Beh, Prema Shah, Krystle Wong, Ale Márquez Santin, Chloë Clarke, and Phillip Quiza. Special thanks also to our phenomenal advisors Taiwo Ademola and Professor Julia Verne. And an exceptional thank you to all the displaced international care workers – many of whom requested not to be listed by their full name – who entrusted us with their stories.
Ready to support the cause? Read our policy paper here – and follow and tag the movement with:
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