Menu
28/05/2003
Conference set to highlight plight of 'refugee doctors'
A conference is to be held in London next week that will call for improved employment rights for "refugee doctors".
The conference, 'Supporting Refugee Doctors to Practise in the UK', aims to bring together government departments, trade unions, the private sector, and voluntary and community sector organisations to discuss the services and support given to refugee doctors, and highlight their needs and potential.
The Refugee Council estimates that there are roughly 2000 refugee doctors living in the UK who are unable to practise, and while a number of initiatives are underway to tackle this problem, the council says that refugee doctors still face "multiple barriers to employment and integration into the labour market".
As a result, the vast majority of refugee doctors are never able to practise in the UK and end up doing menial jobs for which they are clearly overqualified, the council has said.
Dr Edwin Borman, Chairman of the BMA International Committee, said: "The BMA has championed the cause of refugee doctors because we know that these are our colleagues whom we feel that, ethically, we should support and who we know, given the opportunity, will contribute to the country that has given them sanctuary.
"Our experience to date has shown that they are exceeding our expectations".
The Department of Health has established a steering group on refugee health professionals which has already allocated £1 million to projects assisting refugee doctors and other refugee health professionals. Projects are also being set up in many parts of the UK to support refugee doctors.
Dr Rumani, a refugee expected to address the conference, said: "I very much hope that this conference will give refugee doctors like myself a chance to share their experiences. There are a lot of organisations helping refugee doctors but I feel more can be done by the government to both aid and support refugee doctors back into employment in order to reach their own targets."
The conference is due to take place on Wednesday June 4 at Kings College London and will feature speakers from a variety of agencies including the Department of Health and the British Medical Association.
(GMcG)
The conference, 'Supporting Refugee Doctors to Practise in the UK', aims to bring together government departments, trade unions, the private sector, and voluntary and community sector organisations to discuss the services and support given to refugee doctors, and highlight their needs and potential.
The Refugee Council estimates that there are roughly 2000 refugee doctors living in the UK who are unable to practise, and while a number of initiatives are underway to tackle this problem, the council says that refugee doctors still face "multiple barriers to employment and integration into the labour market".
As a result, the vast majority of refugee doctors are never able to practise in the UK and end up doing menial jobs for which they are clearly overqualified, the council has said.
Dr Edwin Borman, Chairman of the BMA International Committee, said: "The BMA has championed the cause of refugee doctors because we know that these are our colleagues whom we feel that, ethically, we should support and who we know, given the opportunity, will contribute to the country that has given them sanctuary.
"Our experience to date has shown that they are exceeding our expectations".
The Department of Health has established a steering group on refugee health professionals which has already allocated £1 million to projects assisting refugee doctors and other refugee health professionals. Projects are also being set up in many parts of the UK to support refugee doctors.
Dr Rumani, a refugee expected to address the conference, said: "I very much hope that this conference will give refugee doctors like myself a chance to share their experiences. There are a lot of organisations helping refugee doctors but I feel more can be done by the government to both aid and support refugee doctors back into employment in order to reach their own targets."
The conference is due to take place on Wednesday June 4 at Kings College London and will feature speakers from a variety of agencies including the Department of Health and the British Medical Association.
(GMcG)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
16 June 2003
More assistance needed for refugee doctors says BMA
The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for refugee doctors to be given more assistance to pass exams necessary for registration in UK. There are currently 865 refugee doctors on voluntary databases who want to work for the NHS, according to the BMA, and many are subsisting on state benefits of £37 per week.
More assistance needed for refugee doctors says BMA
The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for refugee doctors to be given more assistance to pass exams necessary for registration in UK. There are currently 865 refugee doctors on voluntary databases who want to work for the NHS, according to the BMA, and many are subsisting on state benefits of £37 per week.
16 June 2004
Use skills of refugee doctors, says BMA
The valuable skills of hundreds of refugee doctors are not being put to the best use, according to figures published today by the British Medical Association. Marking National Refugee Week, the BMA highlighted the contribution made by refugee and asylum-seeking doctors who are working, or trying to work, in the NHS.
Use skills of refugee doctors, says BMA
The valuable skills of hundreds of refugee doctors are not being put to the best use, according to figures published today by the British Medical Association. Marking National Refugee Week, the BMA highlighted the contribution made by refugee and asylum-seeking doctors who are working, or trying to work, in the NHS.
25 November 2004
'Refugee' doctors need more help to get into the NHS, says BMA
The growing number of refugee and asylum-seeking doctors arriving in Britain need more support to help them get work in the NHS more quickly, according to the British Medical Association (BMA).
'Refugee' doctors need more help to get into the NHS, says BMA
The growing number of refugee and asylum-seeking doctors arriving in Britain need more support to help them get work in the NHS more quickly, according to the British Medical Association (BMA).
21 January 2004
Refugee teachers could fill gaps in UK schools, says agency
Education authorities should use refugees, fully qualified as teachers, to fill vacancies in the UK's understaffed schools, according to the Employability Forum.
Refugee teachers could fill gaps in UK schools, says agency
Education authorities should use refugees, fully qualified as teachers, to fill vacancies in the UK's understaffed schools, according to the Employability Forum.
08 March 2011
Doctors Fear Reporting Colleagues
Almost one in five UK doctors has had direct experience of an incompetent or poorly performing colleague in the past three years, finds a survey of professional values, published online in British Medical Journal (BMJ) Quality and Safety.
Doctors Fear Reporting Colleagues
Almost one in five UK doctors has had direct experience of an incompetent or poorly performing colleague in the past three years, finds a survey of professional values, published online in British Medical Journal (BMJ) Quality and Safety.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
