Overseas students face training curb

Overseas graduates of UK medical schools could be denied the opportunity to continue their NHS training. The BMA is fighting proposed immigration changes which aim to restrict the link between the visas given to overseas students studying at UK medical schools and the visas they then use to progress on to specialty training. There are around 500 overseas graduates of UK medical schools each year who could be affected by the MAC (Migration Advisory Committee) proposal, which makes recommendations to the Government on immigration issues. The Government has not yet responded to the proposals. BMA council chair Mark Porter (pictured) this week wrote to immigration minister James Brokenshire to warn of the consequences to these graduates and the NHS of disrupting the training pathway.   Essential workers Dr Porter points out that the association does not support the ‘unfettered immigration of overseas doctors’ but in his letter he says: ‘International medical graduate doctors have become essential members of the UK’s medical workforce and the NHS is dependent on them to provide high-quality, reliable and safe services to patients. ‘It is in this context that I am concerned that the recommendations made by the MAC, if implemented, will have a series of unintended and harmful consequences for the medical workforce and the wider NHS.’ Dr Porter also highlights in his letter that ‘restricting the supply of UK trained doctors progressin...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news