11/02/2005

Overseas doctors face unemployment in UK

Junior overseas doctors have been warned that they face long periods of unemployment if they come to the UK, an article in this week's British Medical Journal (BMJ) claims.

A recent survey by the Royal College of Physicians on international medical graduates showed that more junior doctors from outside the European Union were coming to the UK, but many were unable to find jobs. Supply and demand were roughly equal four years ago, but the situation now seems to have changed.

Writing in the BMJ, Peter Trewby, of the Royal College of Physicians, said that the NHS was dependent on international medical graduates, who make up a third of the junior workforce. However, he said that there was no system to match graduates to vacancies, or any way of providing information on the current UK work situation for those thinking of coming to Britain to work.

Mr Trewby said: "Doctors are coming to the United Kingdom from countries with greater health needs than ours, but far from gaining experience, they are spending long periods unemployed. The system reflects badly on the NHS and all of those who work in it."

Mr Trewby recommended establishing a central clearing house to which international graduates can apply, before leaving their posts at home, to help solve the current problem.

(KmcA)










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