Belfast Welcomes 11 International Doctors To City

Belfast City Council has launched a groundbreaking English Language Support Academy for Medics, designed to assist 11 experienced international doctors in obtaining registration and licenses to practice in the city. This is the first program of its kind in Northern Ireland.

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, recently hosted a welcome reception for the inaugural cohort of medical professionals who will benefit from the new program. The group includes an orthopaedic surgeon, emergency medical doctors, gynaecologists, GPs, and paediatricians, all eager to re-establish their careers in their new home city.

Funded by the Belfast Labour Market Partnership and Belfast City Council, the academy offers a dedicated learning network to help experienced doctors who have practiced abroad requalify to UK standards, as outlined by the General Medical Council (GMC). In addition to assisting with registration and qualification verification, the academy provides support for preparing for an advanced English language test and medical exams with the Professional Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB). This ensures that doctors possess the necessary knowledge and skills to practice medicine in the UK. 

HR and medical professionals from organisations such as Health and Social Care NI (HSCNI), Belfast Trust, the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, NI Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery, and the Department of Health (International Recruitment) are generously volunteering their time to offer careers advice, interview preparation support, and job searches to help doctors secure employment.

Queen's University Belfast and REACHE Project Manchester are also providing pro-bono support to assist the international professionals in completing their medical (PLAB) exams. This innovative initiative is a significant step towards bolstering the medical workforce in Belfast and ensuring that the city has access to highly skilled healthcare professionals from around the world.

Councillor Murray said: "This new initiative reflects our City of Sanctuary status and is in keeping with the focus of my year in office, helping to make Belfast a more welcoming, inclusive and compassionate city.

"On behalf of the council, I would like to thank our partners for their generous pro-bono support, especially Queen's University Belfast, REACHE Project Manchester and personnel from various other healthcare agencies, for their time in helping with job searches and careers advice, as well as Belfast Trust for providing clinical placements.

"I hope these talented medical professionals feel well supported and welcomed as they study and work to become much-needed members of Belfast's healthcare workforce.

"I would also like to extend my gratitude to Belfast Met and Klik2learn who are drawing on their expertise to deliver this invaluable course."

"The medical school at Queen's University Belfast is delighted to support this Belfast City Council initiative," said Neil Kennedy, Deputy Head of School with School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science at Queen's University.

"We have provided these colleagues with access to teaching resources and support to help them prepare for their licensing exams (PLAB). This support demonstrates our university's commitment to becoming a University of Sanctuary."

The Language Support Academy for Medics is part of a wide range of employment academies offered by Belfast City Council.

To find out more about employability and skills support available to residents, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/employability