---

NHS: Overseas Students

Answer

The Department of Health carried out an assessment of the capacity of the medical training system in England to allow graduate medical trainees (not medical students) from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to undertake their specialist training in England without prejudicing any career opportunities for EEA residents. We are aware that many countries outside of the EEA wish their graduate medics to be trained in the United Kingdom; the limiting factor is the number of training places that the system can accommodate. The Department of Health and the Home Office are in discussions about the possibility of visas to cover specialist training. The focus of these discussions has been the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) only. If any arrangements are made it will be on the understanding that all training and living costs would be borne by the originating country and the visas would only apply for the duration of the specialist training. We believe that international demand for training places in the UK will exceed supply and the sustainable delivery of specialist training to UK standards will involve developing and delivering training programmes abroad. There are sound economic and financial reasons for developing visa routes for KSA postgraduate medical trainees, including potential partnerships with KSA on the redevelopment of its healthcare system. There is also evidence that the location of training influences future behaviour, in particular procurement of technology and training that would benefit the UK in the longer term.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

15601; 735 c294WA

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Doctors NHS Migrant workers Training Visas Saudi Arabia Middle East

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk