Background

Refugee doctors have specific educational needs that are different to other International Medical Graduates (IMGs). IMGs have chosen to come to the UK, and usually have community or family networks. In planning their careers they have shorter career breaks out of medicine, and do not have the social and/or psychological issues involved in an enforced flight from one’s own country.

The London Deanery has been involved for many years in projects for refugee doctors, aimed at helping refugee doctors back to a career in clinical practice.  All refugee doctors must have passed PLAB 2 and be job ready to participate in the programmes.

The various projects have been:

1. Clinical Experience Scheme 2003-2007: 200 doctors in 3 month clinical attachments

2. PRIME posts: 60+ doctors in 6 month supernumerary SHO posts.

From Projects 1 and 2 over 50% of the participating doctors were appointed into stand alone SHO posts, training schemes and as staff grade doctors. One doctor is in the final year of SpR training.

3. Supernumerary GP Vocational training Schemes: 40 refugee doctors gained 3 year GP training schemes. By June 2008 34 of these are now GPs.

4. Foundation Projects: Since the re-organisation of medical training in August 2006, 37 refugee doctors have taken part in Foundation projects.

Overall these projects have a greater than 60% success in helping refugee doctors back into medical employment.

Data base and Needs assessment

All refugee doctors who are living in the London Deanery catchment area are requested to make contact with the London Deanery, either by email or post.  You do need to send details of your current address.  Then a Refugee Doctors Needs Assessment Form and other relevant information will be sent to you.  Please return the completed Needs Assessment form, a recent copy of your CV and evidence of your refugee status in the prepaid envelope, which will be supplied.
By returning your details to this office they will be put on our refugee database, and you will be sent any information forwarded to us for refugee doctors. There maybe on-going projects to support refugee doctors.