Applications backlog slows arrival of overseas doctors

Over 1,000 overseas doctors have applied to work in the NHS - but paperwork for fewer than 40 applicants has been passed to the Specialist Training Authority and royal colleges to assess their qualifications, HSJ has learned.

In the latest twist in the overseas recruitment saga, which has been marked by accusations and counter-accusations as to why it has been so slow to get off the starting blocks, the finger is now pointing at the recruitment agency TMP Worldwide.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president Professor Bill Dunlop said: 'There have been considerable delays in getting processed applications to the colleges.'

He added that the royal colleges had been accused of deliberately blocking the scheme in order to protect members' private earnings. This was not the case, he said. 'There has been an attempt to spin against the colleges. The delay does not lie at the colleges' doors as we cannot do the work until we get the papers.'

Asked if he blamed the agency, he said yes.

British Medical Association joint consultants committee chair Jim Johnson told a committee meeting in late November: 'They [the Department of Health] claim they have between 700 and 1,000 doctors now recruited largely from outside the EU and they are virtually ready to come in.'

However, there was little sign of these doctors in the NHS yet.

A spokeswoman for TMP Worldwide denied there was any problem processing applications.

'This is a bizarre accusation as we have a very good relationship with the royal colleges, ' she said.

She was backed by STA chair Professor John Temple, who said:

'I do not think the blame lies anywhere as assessing applicants' eligibility to join the medical register is a complicated and lengthy task.'

The DoH appointed TMP Worldwide to handle its overseas recruitment campaign in September 2001 and has targeted a number of countries both inside and outside the EU. It also handles the international fellowship scheme launched this summer to attract consultants to the NHS for two years.

TMP Worldwide advertises vacancies and sifts the applications against agreed criteria before sending suitable candidates' details to the STA.

The STA then sends completed papers to the relevant royal colleges which assess applicants' suitability to join the UK medical register. They report to the STA, which in turn puts forward recommendations to the General Medical Council.

Professor Temple said: 'There has been huge interest from overseas, with several thousand expressions of interest, but less than 10 per cent are reaching the colleges at this stage.'

So far the colleges have received only 31 sets of completed paperwork, he said.

He added: 'We need to be sure that these doctors are trained to the correct standards that the British public would expect.' A number of applicants had pulled out when they realised how rigorous the process was.

Both overseas recruitment schemes are now moving ahead, added TMP Worldwide's spokeswoman. In the international fellowship scheme, the STA has approved 18 consultants and rejected two.

Another 20 applications were outstanding with the colleges and four pending a decision from the STA. Trusts have given TMP Worldwide details of 100 vacancies in three specialties they would like to fill using overseas fellows.

In the overseas recruitment scheme, which is recruiting more junior doctors, the STA has approved nine applicants and rejected 20. A further 37 were outstanding with the colleges, she said.

She refused to confirm the number of expressions of interest, saying it would be 'misleading' as they do not represent firm applications.