Abstract
Refugee doctors differ from other international health professionals in that most left their country of origin under duress, rather than being part of the induced migration of many healthcare workers from low- to highincome countries. There are now over 1000 such doctors registered with the British Medical Association Refugee Council voluntary database of refugee and asylumseeking doctors (British Medical Association, 2006). Having obtained refugee status (or indefinite leave to remain), many wish to use their skills within the National Health Service (NHS) and contribute to their host country. However, they need to obtain the requisite qualifications (i.e. 70% in the International English Language Test and passes in both the written and clinical parts of the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board) before being registered with the General Medical Council. They also need to gain an understanding of the culture and context of medical practice within the UK, as well as good references, if they are to compete successfully for training posts with UK graduates and other international medical graduates. The most recent figures available (September 2005) show that only 77 of those registered with the database are currently working in the NHS and 207 doctors have the required accreditation but are not yet employed (British Medical Association, 2006).
Highlights
Refugee doctors differ from other international health professionals in that most left their country of origin under duress, rather than being part of the induced migration of many healthcare workers from low- to highincome countries
The British Medical Association, General Medical Council and some of the Colleges recognise the potential of this group of doctors and encourage ways to support them to overcome these initial hurdles (British Medical Association, 2006)
In response to the European Working Time Directive requirement to reduce doctors’ hours (Department of Health, 2002), as well as recommendations that junior doctors should not be responsible for carrying out routine investigations such as electrocardiography and phlebotomy (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2003), Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare National Health Service (NHS) Trust agreed to the creation of ‘doctors’ assistant’ posts
Summary
A 3608 evaluation was undertaken of improvements in service following the appointment of the doctors’ assistants. A postal survey of all junior doctors on the three sites where the scheme was in place was undertaken at the end of the first year of the project. Rates of haematological investigations before the scheme and at 12 months were compared. A small number of in-patients were asked for their views on the role of doctors’ assistant, and those involved in the scheme were asked to assess the impact of the new posts
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