RxPG - Work Permits, The Home Office, UK and Overseas Doctors

Work Permits
Anyone from outside the EEA wishing to work in the UK must have a work permit, issued by:

Overseas Labour Service
W5 Moorfoot
Sheffield
England S1 4PQ
Tel: 0044 114 2594074

Their employer should arrange their work permit for them before they arrive in the UK.

Doctors undertaking training in the UK do not need a work permit to begin their post, as they are eligible for permit free training. In order to be granted permit free training a doctor will have to satisfy the Home Office that they have secured an official training post. Postgraduate medical deans will provide more guidance about permit free training.

A list of local postgraduate medical deans is available on the following website: www.copmed.org.uk/deaneries/index.html

For VISA queries for applicants from non-EEA countries contact:

Immigration & Nationality Directorate
The Home Office
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR9 2BY
Tel: 0870 6067766

Refugee Doctors
There is special training available for refugees who are qualified doctors, to help them prepare for registration with the GMC, and for applying for jobs in the NHS. Refugee doctors should be encouraged to contact Isabel Fish at the British Medical Association (0207 383 6231), and register on the BMA''s refugee doctor database, they will then receive a monthly newsletter about services available for them.

British Medical Association
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9JP
Website: www.bma.org.uk

They can also find local help by visiting the Refugee Health Professionals Contact Network on the Department of Healths website: www.doh.gov.uk/medicaltrainingintheuk

Induction Courses
All non-UK doctors (from within or outside the EEA), refugee or not, should be encouraged to go on an International Doctors'' Induction Course. These are short courses (2-5days) run throughout England by the Postgraduate Medical Deaneries. They are completely free (accommodation and travel are paid) and open to all doctors who have passed PLAB part 2 and are eligible for GMC registration. The aim of the induction is to introduce non-UK doctors to the culture of the NHS, and the courses are suitable for doctors looking for posts, about to begin their first post, or already in post.

NHS Professionals run the booking service. Call: 0845 120 3164