Ukrainian Medical Council

Work for doctors in Great Britain

 

 

Work for doctors in Great Britain. Medical Practice

 

      The majority of doctors in Great Britain work in a system of hospitals, family medical centres or state system of health care. Some of them may be employed at the universities, teaching students or carrying out scientific research. There is tight cooperation between universities and hospitals.

      Medical training and practice in Great Britain has tasks to correspond the needs of NHS (National Health System), and may differ from those in other countries by duration and structurally. At present this structure undergoes fundamental reorganization.

Special Training

 

      Special Training is subdivided into two parts: general professional and basic specialized. At the period of training and practice doctors work in the system of National Health. After full registration received all practical doctors become qualified as SHO (see the glossary). Usually this title is awarded for a period of two or three years and is considered to be one of the stages of principal professional training. In this time training for examinations into various royal colleges according to specialization. This is a natural requirement for getting higher stage of qualification, called specialist registrar (SpR) grade. Training programs corresponding to this grade are determined in accordance with qualification, such training may last from 4 to 6 years.

      At the time of specialized training all doctors are invited to take part in science programs to be familiar with methodologies of scientific research. Many of them acquire diplomas and degrees, but this is not a requirement condition for taking higher position. It is a competence of appropriate college to make decisions whether time expended for research will be credited in favour of specialized training.

Consultants

 

      This position is considered as non-educational and the highest in hospital grades. Consultants take complete responsibilities for their patients, and are responsible for training and teaching practice for subordinate doctors at lower grades within the teams. According to the law each doctor entering this position must be registered in special register of Medical Council (GMC).

 

Constant professional development (CPD)

 

      Constant professional development is the process of permanent qualification level rise for professional knowledge support in conformity with recent scientific progress.

How to undertake? 
Registratioin

      You should take medical registration before to be allowed to work in a hospital or undertake pharmaceutical work in Great Britain. The process of registration is different for foreign specialists.

There are four different types of registration:

• Conventional 
• Limited 
• Full 
• Special

      Conventional registration is acquired by doctors, who have graduated in Great Britain, working one year after graduation before full registration in Medical Council.

      Limited registration gives rights for foreign doctors practical work in NHS taking educational positions (PRHO, SHO, GP registrar (England only), specialist registrar). In the near future limited registration will be cancelled then doctors abroad will at once take full or conventional registration.

      Full registration gives rights to work at any position in NHS without supervision of higher colleagues.

      Special registration allows doctors to work without higher supervision in state or private-owned sector institutions.

 

Medical License for the right of Medical Practice

 

      Medical Council changes the system of registration for medical doctors and junior health care personnel. At present each practitioner who has rights to carry out practice in Great Britain is being entered medical registers. This system is a subject for reconsideration, and each doctor, submitted in such a register will receive medical certificate.

      The license will have general character, without information about specialization. As well it will not reflect any restrictions or conditions. Any constraints or conditions will be included into the register, which has a place at present.

      Registration for doctors from the countries that are considered as members of European Union

      Doctors whose qualification is included into the list of recognized medical schools of World Health Organization (WHO), have complete rights for registration in the Medical Council. It is necessary to demonstrate objective proofs that a practical doctor disposes all available knowledge and skills necessary for work in the system of Health Care of Great Britain. Physician must arrange appropriate primary qualification and medical experience or completed internship for a period of at least 12 months. In addition successful passing of two tests: Linguistic – according to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Qualification test in English at the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) is required. Doctors receive limited registration for a term of 12-18 months, which may be fatherly resumed in a period of five years. Limited registration can be resumed in a period of five years. However, at this time one can apply for receiving a full registration in the MC. A fundamental requirement is Senior House Officer or Registrar work experience in a period of at least 12 months.

 

Alternative way to apply for medical registration

 

      Registration receipt without passing medical examination is possible according to one of four defined variants below:

1) for doctors who have acquired opportunities to post-qualification training in one of royal medical colleges. 
2) for doctors, who have passed basic examinations on qualification with results which satisfy proper medical institute according to qualification (for example, parts 1 and 2 of examination MRCP). 
3) for doctors who has gained the position of a specialist registrar. 
4) for doctors who claim to special registration by recommendations of appropriate committee on specialized training on the basis of qualification acquired abroad.

      Specific character of practice of foreign doctors includes frequent trainings and specializations in various hospitals around the world. Every doctor knows that one and the same manipulation is conducted in different way not only in various state hospitals but in neighboring hospitals. Different approach to diagnostics and interpretation of analyses, treatment prescription management of the patient makes it necessary to provide constant skills and experience exchange.

      Nowadays, a doctor of the world level is not recognized without knowledge of European and British health care systems in particular. No matter what qualification you are engaged in, 2-4 weeks of probation period in English hospital will help you not only to know and recognize new methods of treatment, make acquaintance with your colleagues, but also to integrate with the world system of health care.

      Probation Periods in Great Britain is a considerable step forward by career, new patients and their gratitude, knowledge that can be delivered to your colleagues. And sometimes it is not important what level of language skills you master, because one doctor always understands the other one (Latin joins us all together). British hospitals are ready to admit you for practice that is called "Attachment doctor".

      Second proposal of British hospitals: you may go and work as a doctor and receive your salary.

      Useful advise: To get employment as a practical doctor in Great Britain, doctors from foreign countries must receive their licenses. We recommend you don't entrust those companies that suggest employment in Great Britain without preliminary certification and licensing.

      To get a certificate it is important to apply you documents properly and take primary registration. This stage is definitely a solution in case of passing examinations and decisions upon your proper degree awarded. Our people will assist you in this process.

 

After this two variants are regarded: 

1. Your experience has been admitted and you were allowed to be employed (salary is nearly 48000 pounds per year). In this case you only need to pass your linguistic test IELTS (address our special chapter).

2. You have been appointed for examination. In this case you have to take your examinations IELTS and PLAB (look at our special chapter upon tests and examinations, where we may provide you with specially worked out materials for training).

 

We are ready to assist you at any stage and may answer all your inquiries. 

WISH YOU GOOD LUCK

 

Glossary of Some Terms

Сonsultant — the highest grade in the system of health care of Great Britain, consultant takes complete responsibilities for work of his subordinate colleagues.

CPD / CME — constant process of rising ones level of qualification, permanent medical education and training.

CV (curriculum vitae) — Resume, document, which is necessary in searching for a job, including structural description of you careers, education and other information.

EEA European Economic Area — European Community, which consists of 25 countries (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) — and also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

GMC General Medical Council (Medical Council) — regulating and certifying authority for specialists of various medical professions in Great Britain.

GP general practitioner — family doctor, therapist. The whole population of Great Britain is under registration of a family doctor.

IELTS International English Language Testing System — Linguistic test, integral part of the process of registration in Medical Council.

NHS National Health Service — State system of Health Care in Great Britain

PLAB test Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board — examination that makes assessment of medical competence and language skills in you qualification, used and implemented in the process of registration in Medical Council.

PRHO pre-registration house officer — doctor's position, who has verified his basic medical education, working during the first period with conventional registration before to be admitted for taking full registration.

Royal Colleges Medical royal colleges and their faculties — Royal College, separate commissions responsible for specialized education in health care of Great Britain.

SHO senior house officer — senior medical grade with a full registration, taking specialized training.

SpR specialist registrar — senior medical grade which is higher then Senior House Officer with a full registration, taking the highest grade of specialization.

WHO World Health Organisation — World organization in the field of health care, dealing with fundamental problems in health care.

 

 

NES - Detail Information + Application Form