I have just read a very interesting article on BMJ Careers this week about foreign doctors, particularly from EU countries, locuming in the UK. It illustrates a bit the lessons doctors from other EU countries can learn from German doctors, who have a long tradition of locuming in the UK.

I have been contacted recently by a UK locum company, which has been recently recruiting in Portugal. This is happening for the first time, so we have no experience of Portuguese doctors locuming in UK hospitals and surgeries. I am currently doing my GP vocational training, so I don't contemplate doing this sort of thing now, but I don't discard it in the future, particularly because it is a way to experience a new healthcare system, while at the same time receiving better finantial incentives than at home.

Are EU doctors well regarded in the UK? I am surprised that the locum company operating here is recruiting chiefly to A&E departments of UK hospitals. Why is this happening? The UK is one of the few European countries with an Emergency Medicine specialty. Why does the UK need EU doctors to work in A&E?

Do EU locum doctors get to undergo any continuous professional development and training as well, while in the UK?

The issue of EU medical mobility is on the rise, but surprisingly not much has been published about it. This article might be a great start.

I think it would be worth to commission, because even though by law it is not compulsory, reality shows some interesting idiosyncrasies and inconsistencies...

Say, an Indian doctor who's been raised speaking English, and has a medical education comparable with that from a UK graduate, has to take PLAB and an English language test, when EU doctors like me not only don't have to take language and qualification and recognition examinations, but may inclusively have lower standards of training.

My opinion is that there should be a big re-think regarding current European work legislation policy, and with doctors, language tests should perhaps come hand in hand with European examinations in the style of USMLE's (USA exams to recognize medical standards in foreign graduates). In other words, first we need fairer and more objective ways to measure standards of training and competence, and  a language examination should probably be compulsory too. If one is proficient in English, a language test should not prove too difficult. I've taken the IELTS twice, and found it challenging but doable.

Hi Notard,

Yes, nobody can work in the NHS (even if they do only locums) unless they have been registered to the GMC.

AND, you cannot register to the GMC unless you have passed the IELTS exam with a score of 7 or 7.5 (if I remember well). However, I do know that IELTS have nothing to do with medical terminology but at least the candidate is able to communicate with patients.

panos

it is good chance to speak something a bout our dreams in developing countries to get a chance for continues our medical course in UK , and develop our practice but I still wonder if there is intention to gave this chance for us as other EU doctors and if this chance is for learning or for working in some place where it is need for health care workers?!