Ahmed

          To open each post, kindly right click on the post and click on open in a new window/tab. Everything in the UK is online - Kindly check the official guidelines along with going through this blog. This is merely my experience and opinion. Google the details of the relevant teams and contact them directly if you are unable to find the official guidance. PRE PLAB: I am a medical student. What do I need to do to work in the NHS? https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2021/09/i-am-medical-student-what-do-i-need-to.html An introduction to working in the NHS, UK. http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2015/06/my-interactive-session-with-medical.html PLAB guideline for medical students http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2015/05/plab-for-medical-students.html Checklist for future NHS doctors http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/checklist-for-future-nhs-doctors.html My message to IMGs who are discouraged by other people to work in the UK http://omarsguidelin...

                                           GENERAL PRACTICE  It is essential that all IMGs and their dependents are registered with a GP when they come to the UK on a work visa.  I have personally never seen my GP since the past 6 years however I may need to see them at some point. Hence I have been registered from when I came to the UK on a work visa.  How to get registered with a GP: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp Check the ratings of the GP surgery closest to you here: https://www.cqc.org.uk/ You can also search on Google by entering the details of your GP surgery I have always tried to register with the nearest GP and this way, I have a GP within walking distance for my wife and child.  Once you have selected a GP surgery, call them and ask about registering with them as a new patient. They will either ask you to fill a form online or fill a ...

This post is about how to ensure your first job in the NHS is as supportive as possible.  I am going to mention points here which I have personally experienced, witnessed and implemented in some of the trusts I have worked in. Choosing the right grade If you are applying in medicine, it is very important you start as a SHO. Even if you have completed the relevant exams ( like given MRCP), ensure you at least start as a SHO.  I have explained more about it here: https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2022/04/starting-as-registrar-as-your-first-job.html Asking the appropriate questions  http://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2015/09/what-to-do-once-your-job-has-been.html Shadowing  https://omarsguidelines.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-importance-of-shaowding-when.html SOME FAQs IMGs have been working in the NHS for decades now. Why do we have to ask these? Should the trusts not know about these?  Unfortunately, the people who deal with your application are non med...

I get messages from IMGs on a regular basis that they took a registrar post in medicine in haste as their first job in the NHS and are now struggling. Luckily, we have colleagues who flag this up to consultants and the directorate who then make amends ( ie put them on the SHO rota , etc ) but sometimes mistakes happen. And the GMC doesn't take this lightly. I also know some IMGs who started as registrars and have been comfortable working at that position from the first day. This could be because they were well supported and did not forget to ask everyone around them for help ( and everyone does help unless it is exceptionally busy in which case the inexperienced registrar may not know what to do). But quite a few are not this lucky. So for the sake of your sanity and patient safety, please do not start as a registrar as your first job in the NHS. If you meet the qualification criteria on paper ( that is given MRCP) , things are a bit different in reality- it takes time to understan...