Guide for doctors new to the UK
January 2008
1. Introduction
International doctors make a valuable contribution to the NHS. Many come for postgraduate training and then return home, while others remain permanently. The UK has always been a popular choice for many reasons, including cultural and historical links with certain countries and having English as the main language.
This information booklet provides a basic introduction to working as a doctor in the UK. It is intended for all doctors who are new to the UK, no matter where they come from or which type of medicine they practise. It contains background information about how healthcare, postgraduate medical training and career structures work in the UK and practical information about how to register as a doctor and prepare for work.
We cannot answer all the questions you may have, for example about training in individual specialties or about contracts and working conditions in different posts, but we have included a list of useful addresses and sources of more detailed information at the back of the booklet, as well as a glossary of terms. More information and help with some aspects will also be available if you become a member of the British Medical Association (BMA).
This guide was accurate at the time of writing, however, major changes are taking place in postgraduate medical training in the UK at the moment, which you should take into account when making any decisions.
What is the BMA?
The BMA is the leading trade union and professional association for doctors in the UK. It represents doctors from all branches of medicine all over the UK. It is a voluntary association, but over 65 per cent of practising doctors are members. The membership of over 137,000 includes over 19,000 medical students and nearly 3,000 members overseas. It provides a wide range of advice and services to help doctors with problems on a day-to-day basis and has a central contact for all employment advice – askBMA – which links members to a network of offices around the country. Members also receive the BMJ each week. If you hold a primary medical qualification that is acceptable for registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) you are eligible to apply for full membership of the BMA. Further information, including details on how to join, is available at www.bma.org.uk/join
Important information
To make life as easy as possible for yourself, please note the following:
- while there are shortages of consultants (in some specialties) and GPs in the UK, this is not the same for training posts. Competition for junior posts has been very high for the past few years and is continuing to increase. Up-to-date details on unemployment and competition for junior doctor posts are available from BMJ Careers at www.careers.bmj.com and the GMC at www.gmc-uk.org Please be aware that the NHS is heading towards a system of self-sufficiency meaning that it will be less reliant on overseas medical staff.
- there is a very high demand for clinical attachments and many international medical graduates (IMGs) are finding it difficult to acquire them. Some Trusts also expect doctors to pay for them
- if you are subject to immigration rules, bear in mind that the immigration rules are undergoing changes.
- conduct as much research as possible into the current employment situation and realistically assess your chances of securing a job.
- plan well in advance and gather as much information as you can before you come to the UK.
- write to the responsible organisations, asking specific questions and make sure that you have everything in writing. Do not rely on telephone advice alone keep copies of all correspondence and documents you have submitted, just in case you have problems later.
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