The government is closely monitoring the impact of a skilled visas cap that led to more than 1,500 doctors being denied entry to the UK between December and March, Downing Street has confirmed.

The home secretary, Sajid Javid, raised hopes that the cap could be lifted by saying on Sunday he was “taking a fresh look” at the policy, increasing pressure on Theresa May to loosen the restrictions.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said on Monday that officials were keeping a close eye on NHS applications, which No 10 has said it regards as a high priority in ensuring Britain’s economy has the workers it needs.

“Visa routes are always under review and we are monitoring the situation in relation to visa applications for doctors, including the monthly limits, including through the tier 2 visa route,” he said.

“The government fully recognises the contribution that international professionals make to the UK and we do keep visa routes under review; however it’s important that our immigration system works in the national interest and ensures that employers look first to the resident UK labour market before recruiting from overseas.”

Specifically on the potential shortage of doctors, he said: “There is a review under way and we are monitoring the situation closely.”

Last week, the BMJ reported that between December and March more than 1,500 visa applications from doctors with job offers in the UK were refused as a result of the cap on tier 2 visas for workers from outside the European Economic Area.