Omicron blocks thousands of overseas doctors joining NHS

Thousands of overseas-qualified doctors wanting to work in the UK will be delayed after the General Medical Council cancelled exams due to the surge in Covid cases.

The regulator said its decision to pause professional and linguistic assessment board tests, scheduled for January and February, was made “in direct response” to the current omicron wave. Up to 54 doctors would have been needed each per day as examiners, it said, alongside a “large number of role players and staff”.

It comes as overseas recruitment is seen by government and national officials as a crucial way to boost NHS staffing, including GPs.

Director of registration Una Lane said: “We are deeply disappointed to have to cancel exams at this time, but given the pressures on the NHS and the impact on examiner availability, it was the only viable option.”

Read full story (paywalled)

Source: HSJ, 6 January 2022