09.11.17
Manchester mayor to welcome overseas doctors
International doctors coming to work in Greater Manchester will be greeted by the mayor, Andy Burnham, in a civic reception.
As part of a drive to address recruitment gaps across the region and increase control over workforce planning, Greater Manchester has been encouraging overseas doctors to come to the UK to work in its hospitals.
The International Training Fellowship scheme started over 10 years ago and has over 100 graduates, with more than 50 people participating this year.
Initially the programme was for trauma and orthopaedic medicine, followed by ear, nose and throat surgery, and has now branched out to other medical and surgical specialities.
The programme is hosted by Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust (WWL), and has been designed by the trust’s senior clinicians along with academics at Edge Hill University to attract overseas doctors who already have completed a three year post graduate degree - an essential requirement for GMC sponsorship.
The clinicians come to the UK to study for a Master of Surgery or Medicine, whilst furthering their clinical training for two to three years.
This year the programme has been further expanded to include specialities such as renal medicine, intensive care and psychiatry.
The doctors will be greeted at a civic dinner at Manchester Town Hall by Jon Rouse, chief officer of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, Andrew Foster, chief executive officer of WWL, Dr. John Cater, pro vice chancellor of Edge Hill University, will join the mayor in officially welcoming them.
Jon Rouse said: “We recognise that there are some very specific workforce pressures and as a Partnership, we are looking at how we fill difficult gaps; how we widen access for and grow talent across a range of new and existing roles; investing in the skills of our workforce and developing our employment offer so that Greater Manchester is one of the best places to work in health and social care.”
“Devolution provides us with an opportunity to bring together organisations and expertise to implement these workforce initiatives and bring about change as fast as we can across Greater Manchester.”
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon and head of clinical training for the scheme, Professor Raj Murali, added: “This scheme has been successful for many years and I’m delighted to see it grow here in Greater Manchester.
“The programme is of mutual benefit, as it helps to fill an immediate recruitment need, as well as further developing the next generation of doctors.”
“Typically, these doctors are working at the coal face of the NHS so it is important that we have high calibre doctors in these posts to provide the high quality of care the public rightfully deserve.”
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