OXFORDSHIRE'S largest NHS trust will cover the application costs for EU staff members to apply for settled status to allow them to continue living and working in the UK following Brexit.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust employs just over 1,500 staff from the European Union.

Chief executive, Dr Bruno Holthof, who is himself Belgian, wrote to all EU staff to inform them the trust would cover the £65 application fee.

In his letter to staff Dr Holthof said: “Like me, more than 1,500 staff working for Oxford University Hospitals are nationals of other European nations.

"As the UK’s planned withdrawal from the EU – Brexit – on March 29 draws closer, I want to let you know that, regardless of Brexit, we want you to stay with us at OUH.

"The contribution of staff from the EU, and indeed all over the world, is one of the strengths of the NHS in general and OUH specifically.

“Regardless of Brexit, we want all EU nationals currently working at OUH to stay with us and the trust board’s decision to cover the costs of the application fee for settled status is a symbol of our commitment to our valued colleagues.”

In October the extent that the county's hospitals rely on EU staff was revealed with more than one in five frontline nurses at OUH coming from the European Union.

Settled status means there is no time limit on how long EU citizens, who have been living here continuously for 5 years, can remain in the UK.

This is also known as indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

In advance of the UK’s planned exit from the EU next March, the UK government has committed to protect the rights of EU citizens and their family members currently living in the UK.