I abandoned training in Britain in 1997 to leave for the USA because
of the extreme chaos in training scheme in the UK.
These days even well qualified British medical graduates have been
finding it hard to get decent training posts. There are several junior
doctor posts in the NHS which are not really training posts. Overseas
doctors
tend to get positions only in these hospitals where the consultants are
not particularly qualified or trained to be trainers. House officers often
do not get supervised for procedures. One to two hour teaching per week is
considered "good" for most of the SHO posts.There was no curriculum, no
career counselling etc. The evaluation of junior doctors, it is joked, is
done by the staff nurses. Many bright and qualified doctors end up as
staff grade doctors which is a career cul-du-sac. These were not what I
expected when I borrowed money for the flight ticket to
Britain.Unfortunately the work culture in the NHS tends to be " shut up
and put up" (although this is not specific for overseas doctors). Once
when I tried to voice my concerns, I was asked " If you are not
satisfied, why don't you go back to where you come from?" Six months later
I was in the US.
In the United States, the system is very homogenous and
there is not much difference in subtance of training between premier
teaching hospitals and ordinary inner city hospitals. Housestaff are
actually trained and not seen as just a pair of hands. Any violation of
training guidelines will be picked up in annual anonymous
surveys.Residency programs get de-recognized if they do not improve.
This is not to cheapen the value of clinical training NHS has to
offer. Nor is this meant to offend my wonderful colleagues and friends in
Britain. Some one has to say that the emperor has no clothes. I appeal to
the GMC to stop
its PLAB racketeering. The GMC, Royal Colleges BMA and the Home office
should sit together and get their act together.
Meanwhile my advice to the overseas doctors in the UK would be to
consider moving to the United States. Residencies are not easy to get;
however they are worth the effort. In 3 years, you will be well equipped
as primary care providers
to independently practice in your home countries. If you choose to
immigrate, you can have a fruitful career as a consultant.
Rapid Response:
The emperor has no clothes!
Dear Sir:
I abandoned training in Britain in 1997 to leave for the USA because
of the extreme chaos in training scheme in the UK.
These days even well qualified British medical graduates have been
finding it hard to get decent training posts. There are several junior
doctor posts in the NHS which are not really training posts. Overseas
doctors
tend to get positions only in these hospitals where the consultants are
not particularly qualified or trained to be trainers. House officers often
do not get supervised for procedures. One to two hour teaching per week is
considered "good" for most of the SHO posts.There was no curriculum, no
career counselling etc. The evaluation of junior doctors, it is joked, is
done by the staff nurses. Many bright and qualified doctors end up as
staff grade doctors which is a career cul-du-sac. These were not what I
expected when I borrowed money for the flight ticket to
Britain.Unfortunately the work culture in the NHS tends to be " shut up
and put up" (although this is not specific for overseas doctors). Once
when I tried to voice my concerns, I was asked " If you are not
satisfied, why don't you go back to where you come from?" Six months later
I was in the US.
In the United States, the system is very homogenous and
there is not much difference in subtance of training between premier
teaching hospitals and ordinary inner city hospitals. Housestaff are
actually trained and not seen as just a pair of hands. Any violation of
training guidelines will be picked up in annual anonymous
surveys.Residency programs get de-recognized if they do not improve.
This is not to cheapen the value of clinical training NHS has to
offer. Nor is this meant to offend my wonderful colleagues and friends in
Britain. Some one has to say that the emperor has no clothes. I appeal to
the GMC to stop
its PLAB racketeering. The GMC, Royal Colleges BMA and the Home office
should sit together and get their act together.
Meanwhile my advice to the overseas doctors in the UK would be to
consider moving to the United States. Residencies are not easy to get;
however they are worth the effort. In 3 years, you will be well equipped
as primary care providers
to independently practice in your home countries. If you choose to
immigrate, you can have a fruitful career as a consultant.
Competing interests: No competing interests