The future of jobs in the NHS
A lot of foreign doctors and medical students ask this question:
I am a medical student, should I give up on my plan of coming to the UK completely?I do not know the answer to this given the uncertainty. Keep following the posts on this group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/IMGs.in.the.UK/
If anyone tells you that they "think" that they can predict what is going to happen to jobs here, they have no idea what they are talking about. They are just speculating and turning their opinions into facts. Be aware of such people.
I hope this guideline helps.
I plan to come to the UK in 20**. Will there be any jobs available for foreigners? Will there be any visa restrictions? What will happen after BREXIT?
Unfortunately, no one knows the answers to these questions.
However one thing is certain - There are plenty of jobs and training opportunities available. I am not sure how long the UK will keep its borders open for skilled workers though. No one knows.
Here is a small example of how unpredictable things can be :
In December 2017, the UK government decided to limit the number of skilled workers into the UK by limited the number of certificates of sponsorships ( A certificate a trust applies for when you accept a job - the UKVI issues this and then you can apply for a work visa on the basis of this). If you do not have a certificate of sponsorhip, you cannot apply for a visa.
The UK government limited issuing of COS's to doctors who had applied for shortage occupational posts only:
Consultants in the following specialities:
clinical radiology
emergency medicine
old age psychiatry
CT3 trainee and ST4 to ST7 trainee in emergency medicine
Core trainee in psychiatry
Non-consultant, non-training, medical staff posts in the following specialities:
emergency medicine (including specialist doctors working in accident and emergency)
old age psychiatry
paediatrics
(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-k-shortage-occupation-list)
As a result, doctors who had applied for medical/surgery SHO posts were left without any COS - for months. The HR teams of the trusts promised them that it would be resolved the following month however it did not. It took 5 months to get this sorted out!
In April, 2018, they issued COS's as normal.
Have a look at the trend from December 2017 to April, 2018 here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employer-sponsorship-restricted-certificate-allocations/allocations-of-restricted-certificates-of-sponsorship
This happened at a time when the NHS was under a lot of pressure and was understaffed. It was winter and there were loads of patients waiting in corridors of ED and in ambulances waiting to be assessed by ED, patients were piling up in ED as there were no beds.
The government finally understood this situation and in April, they allowed COS's to be issued as usual.
So this is my advice to medical students who plan to come to the UK:
1. Keep an open mind and follow the posts here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/IMGs.in.the.UK/
https://naseersjourney.com/useful-links/
2. Make a PLAN B and C as well.
PLAN B: Consider USMLE/Australia/Other countries.
For USMLE, you need to start preparing in advance. This is a very good Facebook page to follow the latest posts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1895221427373613/
Read this post as well:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2017/06/my-opinion-about-usmle.html
PLAN C:
Consider staying in your home country, give all exams ( be it PLAB or if you are planning to come after 2022, then UKMLA - https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/standards-guidance-and-curricula/projects/medical-licensing-assessment), MRCP/MRCS and whenever you see the opportunity, come to the UK.
3. DO NOT ASSUME anything - You never know what can happen in the future. No one could predict the Dec,2017 to march 2018 COS restriction issue. Then everyone started thinking that this is it, then the government automatically allowed COS's to be issued for doctors at all levels and all specialties.
The aforementioned blogs and Facebook groups are a good guide and please keep following them to keep updated.
Frequently asked questions:
I am a medical student. Should I consider USMLE?This depends on you. This whole process is quite expensive and there is a lot of uncertainty at every stage: ie passing exams in the first attempt, getting a job, getting a visa. However do note that a lot of people do get a job in America however the pathway is definitely longer, more expensive and riskier ( more uncertain) than the UK.
Read this blog on it:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2017/06/my-opinion-about-usmle.html
Unfortunately, no one knows the answers to these questions.
However one thing is certain - There are plenty of jobs and training opportunities available. I am not sure how long the UK will keep its borders open for skilled workers though. No one knows.
Here is a small example of how unpredictable things can be :
In December 2017, the UK government decided to limit the number of skilled workers into the UK by limited the number of certificates of sponsorships ( A certificate a trust applies for when you accept a job - the UKVI issues this and then you can apply for a work visa on the basis of this). If you do not have a certificate of sponsorhip, you cannot apply for a visa.
The UK government limited issuing of COS's to doctors who had applied for shortage occupational posts only:
Consultants in the following specialities:
clinical radiology
emergency medicine
old age psychiatry
CT3 trainee and ST4 to ST7 trainee in emergency medicine
Core trainee in psychiatry
Non-consultant, non-training, medical staff posts in the following specialities:
emergency medicine (including specialist doctors working in accident and emergency)
old age psychiatry
paediatrics
(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-k-shortage-occupation-list)
As a result, doctors who had applied for medical/surgery SHO posts were left without any COS - for months. The HR teams of the trusts promised them that it would be resolved the following month however it did not. It took 5 months to get this sorted out!
In April, 2018, they issued COS's as normal.
Have a look at the trend from December 2017 to April, 2018 here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employer-sponsorship-restricted-certificate-allocations/allocations-of-restricted-certificates-of-sponsorship
This happened at a time when the NHS was under a lot of pressure and was understaffed. It was winter and there were loads of patients waiting in corridors of ED and in ambulances waiting to be assessed by ED, patients were piling up in ED as there were no beds.
The government finally understood this situation and in April, they allowed COS's to be issued as usual.
So this is my advice to medical students who plan to come to the UK:
1. Keep an open mind and follow the posts here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/IMGs.in.the.UK/
https://naseersjourney.com/useful-links/
2. Make a PLAN B and C as well.
PLAN B: Consider USMLE/Australia/Other countries.
For USMLE, you need to start preparing in advance. This is a very good Facebook page to follow the latest posts:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1895221427373613/
Read this post as well:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2017/06/my-opinion-about-usmle.html
PLAN C:
Consider staying in your home country, give all exams ( be it PLAB or if you are planning to come after 2022, then UKMLA - https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/standards-guidance-and-curricula/projects/medical-licensing-assessment), MRCP/MRCS and whenever you see the opportunity, come to the UK.
3. DO NOT ASSUME anything - You never know what can happen in the future. No one could predict the Dec,2017 to march 2018 COS restriction issue. Then everyone started thinking that this is it, then the government automatically allowed COS's to be issued for doctors at all levels and all specialties.
The aforementioned blogs and Facebook groups are a good guide and please keep following them to keep updated.
Frequently asked questions:
I am a medical student. Should I consider USMLE?This depends on you. This whole process is quite expensive and there is a lot of uncertainty at every stage: ie passing exams in the first attempt, getting a job, getting a visa. However do note that a lot of people do get a job in America however the pathway is definitely longer, more expensive and riskier ( more uncertain) than the UK.
Read this blog on it:
http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2017/06/my-opinion-about-usmle.html
I am a medical student, should I give up on my plan of coming to the UK completely?I do not know the answer to this given the uncertainty. Keep following the posts on this group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/IMGs.in.the.UK/
And follow the blogs here:
https://naseersjourney.com/useful-links/
I have done my one year internship. Should I give up on my plan to come to the UK?No, this is the best time to come to the UK. Give IELTS/OET, PLAB 1 and 2 and come to the UK ASAP.
What affect will BREXIT have on jobs for IMGs?Not much. However no one can predict what will happen. Overall, BREXIT is not good for the UK. You can Google why this is the case.
Should I give up on my plan to come to the UK given BREXIT?
https://naseersjourney.com/useful-links/
I have done my one year internship. Should I give up on my plan to come to the UK?No, this is the best time to come to the UK. Give IELTS/OET, PLAB 1 and 2 and come to the UK ASAP.
What affect will BREXIT have on jobs for IMGs?Not much. However no one can predict what will happen. Overall, BREXIT is not good for the UK. You can Google why this is the case.
Should I give up on my plan to come to the UK given BREXIT?
No. However keep an open mind and keep checking the afoermentioned groups for any updates.
For now, there are plenty of job. So avail this opportunity ASAP.
If anyone tells you that they "think" that they can predict what is going to happen to jobs here, they have no idea what they are talking about. They are just speculating and turning their opinions into facts. Be aware of such people.
I hope this guideline helps.
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