NHS Missing Out On Talents Of Refugee Doctors, British Medical Association Says

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 18 Jun 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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New BMA figures published today indicate that only a minority of the refugee and asylum-seeking doctors in the UK are currently working in the NHS. The BMA says there are many more whose talents are being wasted because they receive insufficient support in overcoming bureaucratic and financial barriers to practising in the NHS.

It describes it as "disgraceful" that some cash-strapped hospitals are charging refugee doctors for clinical attachments - their only opportunity to gain experience of work in the NHS. And projects to provide them with information and advice have suffered since central funding was withdrawn in 2006. They now have to rely on local funding, but financial pressures on the NHS mean many have had to close.

Dr Edwin Borman, Chairman of the Refugee Doctor Liaison Group, co-ordinated by the BMA, says:

"Refugee and asylum-seeking doctors have done a huge amount for this country, and thousands of NHS patients have benefited from their talents.

"Many more want to contribute to the country that has given them sanctuary but are struggling to overcome bureaucratic and financial hurdles. The NHS could be doing far more to help them gain the knowledge and experience they need to start helping UK patients.

"It's disgraceful that some hospitals are actually exploiting them by charging them for work experience."

The BMA currently holds details of 1199 refugee and asylum-seeking doctors in the UK. Of these, 172 (14%) are working in the NHS. Over one in five (23%) of the 1027 who are not currently working in the NHS are "job-ready", having obtained the professional and linguistic exams needed to work in the UK. However, many have had to pay to re-take the tests after the minimum language requirement for new applicants to postgraduate training programmes was increased.

View the full BMA figures here.

This week (16-22 June, 2008) is National Refugee Week

British Medical Association