Dear friend,
Are you an Overseas Doctor working in UK or currently in UK, but unemployed?
If yes, this could be the most important mail you have ever received.
Please read this mail in full - Very important information enclosed.
What is happening?
From April 2006, two things, which affect you, are going to happen:
1. Permit free training for overseas doctors is ending.
2. Equal Opportunities policy will no longer apply for doctor's job selection. This means that Trusts will employ UK/EU doctors in preference to overseas graduates irrespective of qualifications and irrespective of visa status.
Trusts have already started recruitment with the new policy with the explicit statement: " UK/EU candidates will be given preference over non-EU overseas graduates" (eg: http://www.jpaget.co.uk/med_rec/Medicalvacancies.php)
Why is this a problem?
This was announced without any Consultation or grace period. This has significant implications for overseas doctors at all levels of training. They will find that after years of serving the NHS, they are being thrown aside in job selection. There is no guarantee that they will continue to be employed in further posts. Many will have to relocate at short notice, causing disruption to career, finances and family life, not to mention training. This is shocking news to all of us who came here believing in the promise of Equal Opportunities.
What are the implications?
All Doctors: You will have to change your Visa status. There will be NO Equal Opportunities in job selection and your skills and qualifications will not matter.
Those on HSMP, Permanent Residency etc will also be considered as "overseas doctors" for the purpose of job selection and will be considered only after UK/EU candidates.
SHO: You may never complete your "training". For those who want only MRCP and not UK jobs, remember that most Royal Colleges want 2 years "approved training posts". If you don't get a job, your Work Permit will end and you will become an illegal resident from the next day. If you are currently unemployed, you will almost surely never get a job / "training".
Registrars: You will require a separate work permit for each job in your rotation! And for those planning to specialise further, the door is shut firmly on your face. And you will never become a Consultant! (What you do after your SPR training is anybody's guess… Think of all the time you spent on learning "Consultant skills!) Isn't it gratifying to note that an EU candidate with no " UK experience " will be automatically considered over you for Consultant job selection, without regard for skills or experience?
What can we do?
The Time to Act is NOW.
Don't postpone it to tomorrow or expect others to fight your battles. Overseas doctors associations including British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO)are already gearing up to protest this unjust rule.
? FORWARD this email to all overseas doctors in your address book NOW. Sadly many are still not aware of the dark future ahead.
? KNOW more about this issue by visiting http://imgprotest.moonfruit.com/, a web site designed to promote the protest movement and containing updated information.
? SIGN the online petition at this web site which is being submitted to the Secretary of State for Health
? PARTICIPATE in the peaceful protest march to be held in London in April , being co-ordinated by Dr Satheesh Mathew, Consultant Paediatrician from London.(Date to be announced shortly, hundreds already committed)
? DISCUSS these issues with your colleagues and ask them to sign the petition as well.
? PARTICIPATE in the BMA Junior Doctors Conference at London and vote on the motions thereby deciding policy.. You don't have to be a BMA member. You will be reimbursed travel and hotel expenses by BMA . This is a golden chance to make your voice heard. Visit this link and REGISTER NOW. Registration is closing soon
http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/juniorsconference
? BAPIO is also circulating a paper petition, which I am attaching to this mail. Download it, fill it at post it back to the address given.
? Write letters to DOH,, Postgraduate Deaneries, BMA and various newspapers etc.
? A legal challenge is in the pipeline, please keep yourself updated
There is no time to lose. ACT now…
Hoping to see you all in this fight against injustice.
Dr Anjay Pillai
Research Fellow, Paediatrics
Airedale General Hospital
Please visit http://imgprotest.moonfruit.com for comprehensive information on this issue,updated daily.
Forward this mail NOW to every overseas doctor in your address book.
This is not a junk/spam mail. These issues might change your life forever.
Posted by nrsmc
at 6:13 PM GMT
