A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
2015/2016
A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
Chantelle Urquhart Managing Director of Quality Locum Solutions
Quality Locum Solutions Unit 3 Granary Wharf Steam Mill Street Chester UK CH3 5BE +44 (0)1244 329 018
A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
Contents Introduction
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About QLS
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NHS explained
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NHS core principles The structure
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Rules and regulatios
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Becoming a Doctor
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International Doctors My notes Contact us
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
Introduction The National Health Service (NHS) is one of most famed healthcare services in the world. It is renowned for delivering a high standard of care across the United Kingdom. The NHS also has a first-rate research programme, and contributes a significant amount of money toward researching new treatments and caring methods. We have over fifteen years experience of supplying medical locums to NHS Trusts all over the country, and in that time we’ve learned a thing or two about what some of our locums go through during the process. We understand that relocating to the UK from another country and working in an entirely new environment can seem daunting at first, but we’re here to reassure you that it is one of the most exciting and rewarding challenges you’ll undertake. This is a brief guide to who we are, how we work with the NHS, and how we’ll support you through throughout the entire process. Whether you’ve been working with us for ten years, or if you’re new to the QLS family, we hope that this guide proves useful in helping you prepare for the exciting times ahead.
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
About QLS We are suppliers of AHP, HSS, and medical locum staff to NHS and private hospitals throughout the UK. The staff we supply are not your average Joe’s, there solely to cover an absence. Our locum staff are experienced, qualified, and highly trained. Perfect for upholding our professional, no nonsense reputation. Quality Locum Solutions harbour a fantastic selection of recruitment consultants along with a dedicated supporting cast beneath, keeping them afloat. Our list of candidates and clients continues to expand, bringing QLS with it, allowing us to provide nothing but the best medical staff.
We are based here, but we supply staff throughout the UK
We like to think of ourselves as transparent, there are no lies, no empty promises. Everyone knows how we work, what we pay our candidates, and what we charge.
Our staff are not your average Joe’s. Our staff are experienced, qualified, and highly trained.
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
The NHS Explained Created in 1948, the NHS was designed to satisfy the recommendations of the Beveridge Report of 1942. In short, it would provide: “comprehensive health and rehabilitation services for prevention and cure of disease.� Nowadays, the NHS still believes that good healthcare should be available to everyone, regardless of wealth or income. With the exception of prescriptions, optical and dental services, the NHS continues to provide free healthcare to the 65 million people who live in the UK. The NHS is something that British people remain incredibly proud of. A 2014 study found that the UK had a superior healthcare system to Australia, France, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the US, to name a few. The NHS continually receives praise for its efficiency and cost-related care.
Did You Know... Both men and women live an average of 10 years longer than they did before the creation of the NHS. Staff across the NHS are in contact with more than 1.5 million patients and their families every day. There are now around 90 NHS walk-in centres offering convenient access to services, including treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. source: www.nhs.uk
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
Funding The NHS operates solely on funds received from taxation. Today, the NHS has a budget of around ÂŁ115 billion per year.
Size As of 2015, the NHS employs around 1.6 million people, roughly 2.5% of the UK’s entire population. It is within the five largest employers in the world, alongside the US Department of Defence and McDonalds. Of the 1.6 million NHS employees, 1.3 million are within England. That number includes over forty thousand General Practitioners, three hundred and fifty thousand nurses, and over eighteen thousand ambulance staff. This workforce deals with over one million patients every 36 hours.
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
NHS Core Principles Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the NHS has become a bedrock of British life, helping people from every corner of society. Thankfully, the NHS continues to abide by the same basic principles set out in 1948 – to provide free healthcare for all. That being said, the continued growth and demand placed on the system has meant that the aforementioned principle has had to be expanded upon. Below are the core principles of the NHS.
The NHS provides a comprehensive free service to all Access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not an individual’s ability to pay The NHS aspires to achieve the highest standards of excellence and professionalism The NHS aspires to put patients at the very heart of everything it does The NHS works across organisational boundaries, and in partnership with other organisations in the interests of patients, local communities and the wider population The NHS is committed to providing the best value for tax payers’ money, and the most effective, fair, and sustainable use of finite resources The NHS is accountable to the public, communities and patients that it serves
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
The Structure Healthcare Providers Providers of health care within the NHS are split into two different groups; primary care and secondary care services. Primary care services are usually the first point of contact for patients. They act as a ‘gate keeper,’ controlling access to hospitals and other specialist services. Their job is to ensure that as much care as possible is provided outside of the hospital. Good examples include General practitioners, NHS Direct, dentists and pharmacists. Secondary care services on the other hand, are those that treat patients through a GP or other primary care referrals. They also treat unplanned referrals that come from an Accident & Emergency department. Put simply, secondary care services tend to be hospitals. The NHS also provides all of its healthcare services through organisations known as ‘trusts,’ these are broken into five further subcategories.
Clinical Commission Groups (CCGs) – planned hospital care, rehabilitive care and emergency care. There are currently 211 CCGs in England. Hospital Trusts – hospitals in a particular geographical area. Ambulance Trusts – ambulance and emergency response healthcare, Mental Health Trusts – services for the support of mental health problems. There are currently 56 Mental Health Trusts in England alone. Care Trusts – healthcare and/or social care, there are only a small number of care trusts
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
The Structure
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors Now there may be some names on that chart that you don’t quite recognise, don’t worry. It’s a lot simpler than it looks. Let’s start at the top. Our current Secretary of State for Health is Jeremy Hunt. Put simply, all this means is that Jeremy Hunt is in charge of the entire government department of health. He oversees the whole operation, and it’s his job to ensure the system works. Working our way down, we have the Department of Health. The DoH is entirely responsible for the government policy on health and social care in England, and partly responsible for the policies in Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Whilst it does not manage the health and social care systems directly, it is responsible for the strategic leadership of both. Health and Wellbeing boards are essentially forums, providing key leaders from the health and social care system the opportunity to work together to improve services to their local population. They’re part of the overall plan to modernise the NHS, aiming to ensure a greater sense of democracy, and increased participation from local communities. NHS England is responsible for allocating resources to CCGs, and also commissions primary care and specialist services. In short, NHS England oversees the budget, planning and day-to-day running of the NHS in England. It is a body of the Department of Health. Finally we have Public Health England. You might not recognise the name, as it’s the most well publicised part of the Department of Health. Public Health England works with local governments and the wider NHS in order to respond to any emergencies. Their mission is ‘to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities.’ The vast majority of it’s staff are scientists and researchers.
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
Rules and Regulations As the NHS is such a large institution, it would be impossible for one regulatory body to oversee every part of its operations. As such, there are a number of different organisations responsible for regulating different parts of the NHS. We’ve just included a few of the ones you should probably be aware of. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is responsible for making sure that hospitals, care homes, dental surgeries and other care services in England are providing people with safe, effective and high-quality care. The CQC also encourages them to make improvements, should any of their care be below standard. The CQC is transparent about it’s work, and regularly posts reports on it’s inspections, so patients feel safer and more confident about where they’re being treated. Monitor is the sector regulator for health services in England. Monitor has a range of powers granted by Parliament, which include setting and enforcing a framework of rules for providers and commissioners. It’s job is to protect the interests of patients by ensuring that the whole sector is working for their benefit. The General Medical Council is an independent organisation, but with a large influence over how the NHS is ran. They help to protect patients and improve medial education and practice all over the UK. They’re important, as they decide which doctors are qualified to work here and oversee UK medical training. They’re also responsible for setting the standards the doctors need to follow, as well as ensuring that doctors meet these standards throughout their careers.
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
Becoming a Doctor Medicine is still one of the most popular subjects studied at British universities, as many students want to be a part of the NHS. The General Medical Council maintain a list of all registered doctors, and pay close attention to how many young people are entering the profession. As of August 2015, it is estimated that 4.5% of the 274,179 doctors are under the age of 25. As previously mentioned, the General Medical Council are also responsible for the educating and training of all future doctors. They determine what is studied, when it is studied, and where it can be studied, as only certain establishments are allowed to teach medicine.
Typical Pathway for UK Doctors Medical degree. This usually takes five years at a British university, and provides students with some exposure to the different specialities within medicine. It aims to develop attitudes and behaviours appropriate to the medical professional. Foundation years. Medical students then complete two foundation years, in which they learn the basic clinical skills in medicine, surgery and general practice. Once graduates have begun this training, they are now entitled to a salary from the NHS. After the first foundation year has been completed, medical students can now apply for registration with the General Medical Council. They can now begin to sample a range of specialities, such as psychology and immunology. Special and General Practice Training. Doctors continue to study and specialise the way in which they work. They begin to move towards the career path that they will eventually follow. Training for General Practice typically takes three years, whereas some speciality training can go on for eight years. Continued professional development. All doctors are expected to continually demonstrate that their skills are up to date, and that they are still fit to practice medicine.
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
International Doctors Working for the NHS Right from the start, International Doctors have played a vital role within the NHS. A 2015 report from the British newspaper the Guardian found that the NHS employ roughly 3,000 foreign-trained doctors every year. Britain has regularly had periods of medical staff-shortage, and foreign doctors play a crucial role in helping to keep the NHS running during these times.
BeneďŹ ts
There are a lot of reasons why the UK continues to attract some of the best international doctors in the world. Work experience in one of the largest healthcare systems in the world Top quality training and development Access to well-funded research facilities Great standard of pay An opportunity to live and work within the UK Being part of a diverse, multi-cultural population
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Nationalities of international doctors working within the NHS
The General Medical Council goes further, claiming that 26.3% of licensed doctors graduated from their medical qualification in an international country.
Top 10
Indian 7286 Pakistani 1909 Irish 1852 Greek 1292 Malaysian 1283 German 907 Sri Lankan 736 Italian 699 Egyptian 604 Nigerian 603
A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
Opportunities The demand for doctors can vary hugely in different areas of the UK. It can also depend upon the speciality you practice. Before making the decision to move to the UK, we would always advise that doctors secure a position first, as entering the NHS for the first time can often prove difficult. Bear in mind that doctors wishing to work in the UK for the first time must obtain a valid right to work in the UK, as well as a license to practice medicine from the General Medical Council. This is where Quality Locum Solutions can step in. Here at QLS, we do everything we can to make the transition as smooth as possible. We use our vast resources and connections to secure work placements in a variety of different hospitals. The benefits of locum work are simple. Firstly, it quickly shows an employer that you have experienced a wide range of different hospitals and work environments. Above all, it proves that you are adaptable. Not to mention that the pay for locum work is often significantly higher than that of a permanent doctor. Every so often, the UK government produces a skills shortage report, detailing which professions the country is in short supply of. The most recent report was released on 6th April 2014, and lists the following professions:
Consultants in: Emergency medicine Haematology Old age psychiatry Non consultant medical staff in: Anaesthetics General Medicine specialities including intensive care medicine, general internal medicine, and emergency medicine. Rehabilitation medicine Psychiatry
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
My Notes
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
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A Guide to Quality Locum Solutions and the NHS for International Doctors
Contact Us Remember, moving to the UK can be one of the most exciting challenges many people face. With a beautiful, diverse population, and one of the worlds best health systems, moving to the UK to practice as an international doctor is an enviable career move. If you’d like to find out more about practicing in the UK, or any of our current roles, get in touch.
Our UK Address:
Quality Locum Solutions Unit 3 Granary Wharf Steam Mill Street Chester CH3 5BE
Our UK number:
+44 (0)1244 329 018
Our Romanian Address: 1st Floor 17 Colonel Langa Street Iasi 70065
Our Romanian number: +40 (0)747 758 793
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Quality Locum Solutions 2015 Š