UK helps refugee doctors to practise in NHS

Up to 2000 doctors with refugee status in the United Kingdom will be offered appropriate training and opportunities to work for the NHS under a scheme announced by the government last week.

The initiative follows recommendations from a Department of Health Working Group on Refugee Doctors and Dentists and will apply to people who have been granted either refugee status or “exceptional leave to remain” under immigration rules.

The British Refugee Council will now set up a voluntary database of refugee doctors and dentists, including details of their individual skills and specialties, as a first step to implementing the scheme. Those on the database will be given training to ensure that they practise to the same standards as other NHS doctors, and language training …