HANDBOOK
FOR
OVERSEAS DOCTORS
September 2004 Version
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 3
HANDBOOK FOR OVERSEAS DOCTORS..................................................................................... 3
OVERSEAS DOCTORS............................................................................................................... 4
MEDICAL TRAINING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM .................................................... 5
OUTLINE .................................................................................................................................. 5
PLANNING YOUT TRAINING ....................................................................................................... 6
GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL (GMC) .................................................................... 7
REGISTRATION ......................................................................................................................... 7
Full Registration .................................................................................................................. 7
Provisional Registration ...................................................................................................... 7
Limited Registration ............................................................................................................ 7
PROFESSIONAL & LINGUISTIC ASSESSMENTSBOARD (PLAB) TEST ............................................ 8
Exemption from PLAB ........................................................................................................ 8
GOOD MEDICAL PRACTICE ....................................................................................................... 8
PERMIT-FREE TRAINING ....................................................................................... 10
INITIAL GRANT OF PERMIT-FREE TRAINING ............................................................................... 10
APPLYING FOR AN EXTENSION TO PERMIT-FREE TRAINING ....................................................... 10
SPOUSE STATUS .................................................................................................................... 11
GETTING ADVICE AND GUIDANCE ...................................................................... 12
Department of Health ....................................................................................................... 12
OBTAINING A TRAINING POST ............................................................................. 14
STARTING A NEW JOB .......................................................................................... 15
CLINICAL ATTACHMENTS ..................................................................................... 16
DOMESTIC AND CULTURAL MATTERS ................................................................ 17
CONTACTS AND ADDRESSES: ............................................................................. 19
THE ROYAL COLLEGES .......................................................................................................... 19
OTHER NATIONAL BODIES ..................................................................................................... 20
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL ADVISERS .......................................................................................... 21
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISERS (MEDICINE) ...................................................... 23
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISERS (PATHOLOGY) .................................................. 24
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISERS (PSYCHIATRY) .................................................. 25
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISERS (SURGERY) ...................................................... 26
HOSPITAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS ........................................................................................... 27
YORKSHIRE DIRECTORS OF POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION ........................................ 28
MENTORS FOR OVERSEAS DOCTORS ..................................................................................... 29
2
INTRODUCTION
HANDBOOK FOR OVERSEAS DOCTORS
Yorkshire Deanery aims to provide excellent training for doctors from overseas who come
here to further their own professional development, and who, in the process, make a
valuable contribution to the National Health Service.
Overseas doctors are subject to complex regulations, they may be used to a very different
health care and training system, they may find themselves disadvantaged in the competition
for the most appropriate training posts, the training provided may not be relevant to the
situation they will return to in their own country, and, in the past at least, may have found the
balance tilted too far towards service provision and too far away from training.
This handbook is intended as a guide for doctors from overseas, to help them to make the
most of their time in Yorkshire and in the UK, with outlines of the regulations and structures,
and sources of more detailed help and information.
It is also intended to help consultants, tutors, postgraduate medical centre staff, medical
personnel departments and others who have dealings with overseas doctors.
I am quite happy for pages, sections or the whole book to be reproduced for any useful
purpose; it is presented in computer disc form for this reason, as well as to allow ready
updating. I have made every effort to ensure that the information is accurate, but I cannot
guarantee it, and I can take no responsibility for the consequences of actions based on the
information in this handbook. If you do notice any errors, or if you have ideas to improve on
the information provided, then please let me know.
I am very grateful to Dr Maeve Keaney, Associate Postgraduate Dean in Manchester, for
permission to plagiarise the excellent handbook that she produced for overseas doctors in
the Northwest Region.
Dr Patrick Neligan
Associate Postgraduate Dean
Yorkshire Deanery
Willow Terrace Road
University of Leeds
LEEDS
LS2 9JT
Tel: 0113-343 1567
Fax: 0113-343 1530
E-mail p.neligan@yorkshiredeanery.com
3
OVERSEAS DOCTORS
An “Overseas Doctor” is one who, regardless of where (s)he obtained his/her primary
medical qualification, does not have right of residence in the UK, or does not have “settled
status”.
Doctors from the *European Economic Area (EEA) are not really overseas doctors. They
have entitlement to stay in the UK and, once they have completed the registration
requirements of their country of qualification, have no restriction on employment and medical
training in the UK. They are, however, foreign to the practice of medicine in the UK, and may
have some problems in common with overseas doctors.
A doctor who is not an EEA national and who qualified in the UK is an overseas doctor for
purposes of immigration and employment.
A UK national who qualified outside of the EEA is not an overseas doctor but will initially be
restricted to Limited Registration (qv).
Some overseas nationals can acquire settled status (eg by marriage to a British citizen, or,
for Commonwealth citizens, if one or more grandparents was born in Britain) and then have
no restriction on employment.
On entry to the country a doctor’s passport will be endorsed with a stamp indicating any limit
on time, restriction or prohibition of employment, or other conditions including the need to
register with the police. The passport stamp will be the indicator of the current period of
“Permit-free Training”(qv), but those words are not on the stamp.
Any doubts on status should be clarified with the Home Office.
*EEA countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
and the UK. There is also mutual recognition for Swiss nationals and Swiss qualifications.
Since May 2004, 10 new states have joined the EEA, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia,
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In principle doctors from
these countries will have the right to live and work in the UK and to register as doctors
without further assessment, but the details still need clarification; check with Home Office
and GMC.
4
MEDICAL TRAINING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
OUTLINE
Postgraduate medical training in the UK involves paid employment as a junior doctor
providing the service to patients, gaining clinical experience under supervision, while also
studying and receiving tuition. Entry to a training programme is by successful appointment to
a job, and not by enrolment on a course. In the hospital specialties this training is in three
parts:
1)
Pre-registration House Officer (PRHO) year or General Clinical Training sometimes
called “Internship”. Twelve months of carefully supervised training, including at least three
months in Medicine and three months in Surgery, and usually six months of each, is an
essential requirement for GMC registration for graduates of UK Medical Schools. This period
is overseen by the Medical Schools, and the number of posts is matched to the number of
graduates.
2)
Basic specialist training (BST) or general professional training (GPT) in the
senior house officer grade (SHO). This follows completion of pre-registration requirements,
and lasts for two or three years, during which time the doctor takes the professional
examinations of the relevant Royal College that constitute the entry requirements for higher
training.
3)
Higher specialist training (HST) in the specialist registrar grade (SpR). The old
grades of registrar and senior registrar are obsolete. The full programme lasts for 4-6 years
depending on specialty, consists of a structured rotation to give balanced experience, and
leads to a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST). Part of the programme
may be advertised as a Locum appointment for training (LAT). Such a locum period may
count towards specialist training, but only in the event of subsequent appointment to a
definitive SpR post.
Not all SpR posts lead to a CCST. Fixed term training appointments (FTTA) are available
to overseas doctors for a finite period up to 2 years, or occasionally longer. This allows
specific training in the specialty, but cannot lead to a CCST. A series of LAT posts cannot
lead to CCST. There are also Locum appointments for service (LAS), which do not count as
training posts at all, even though some training may be available. These are only short-term
posts.
Detailed guidance on higher training is available in “A Guide to Specialist Registrar Training”,
the “Orange book” – February 1998.
The training for general practice (family medicine or primary care medicine) is a three-year
vocational training scheme (GPVTS), made up of one year as a GP registrar in a training
practice and two years in a variety of approved hospital posts (at SHO level); the final
placement of the three years is normally in General Practice. In the past the regulations on
funding, immigration and GMC registration prevented overseas doctors from training for
General Practice, but since November 2003 overseas doctors have been able to train for
General Practice with limited registration and permit-free training.
Changes to training. The whole of medical training is under review, a process called
Modernising Medical Careers (MMC). From August 2005 new graduates will enter a 2-year
Foundation programme consisting of 4 to 6 placements, intended to give greater breadth to
experience and to develop generic skills, including an emphasis on recognising and
managing acute illness. There will be an exit assessment of competence. Thereafter doctors
will enter training for a specialty or general practice, leading to a certificate of completion of
training (CCT) after 3 to 6 years. See http://www.mmc.nhs.uk/index.asp
5
Appointment to all training posts is selective, following advertisement, application and
competitive interview. Possession of the entry requirements and the desire to train in the
specialty, however strong, are not sufficient to secure a training post. Doctors should
realise that they may be unable to obtain a post in their chosen specialty even after
numerous applications, especially in the more popular specialties.
In order to do any sort of clinical training a doctor must register with the General Medical
Council (GMC), must satisfy the employing authority’s regulations on health and other
matters, and must have valid exemption from work permit regulations (see Permit-free
training).
Teaching will usually be a mixture of informal instruction in the workplace, clinical meetings
and grand rounds, and sessions organised by specialty tutors to meet the needs of doctors in
training. In some cases there may be regional or sub-regional training days. It is important
that you make every effort to attend these educational sessions provided for you, some of
which will be in protected time, free of clinical commitments. All training posts have an
entitlement to Study Leave with pay and expenses for attending relevant courses away from
the workplace, subject to the approval of consultants and tutors. The purpose of study leave
is to provide learning opportunities that are not normally available in the course of your work.
Discuss your needs with your educational supervisor (a nominated consultant in your
department) and find out about the local policy on study leave.
Medical research is carried out in parallel with training and service provision. Some doctors in
training undertake pure research posts for one to three years, usually working for a higher
degree in a University appointment or on a research grant. If there is no clinical work at all
involved then an overseas doctor doing research can have student status and need not have
GMC registration. If there is any clinical component to the work then all GMC and work permit
regulations apply.
PLANNING YOUT TRAINING
Before you arrived in the UK you should have had an overall plan. Your plan should include
what you are aiming for in the long term, say 10 years from now, and the steps you will need
to take to achieve it. What exactly is it that you are hoping to get from training in the UK.
 What is your ultimate goal? Include a range of options, if you wish, but identify the area
of medical practice, the type of institution, and the geographical location where you would
hope to work eventually.
 Is this realistic? How do you know? What have more senior doctors told you about your
ability and performance?
 What experience will you need? Be specific. Is it available in the UK?
 What qualifications will you need?
 What obstacles might there be?
 Outline a plan for your training in the UK, with approximate timetable.
 Which examinations - When?
 Training posts you will need to apply for.
 What achievement will mark the satisfactory conclusion of your training in the UK?
 It is important that you consider what will happen if things don’t work out, and that you
may need to change or abandon your plan.
 What will indicate that there is no point in continuing? - e.g. 3 unsuccessful attempts at
an examination? Repeated failure to obtain an SpR post?
 At intervals through your training you need to review progress with a trusted adviser. In
particular consider:
 Are you still moving in the right direction?
 Are you progressing quickly enough?
 Is your plan still realistic?
6
GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL (GMC)
REGISTRATION
The General Medical Council (GMC) is the statutory body responsible for the regulation and
standards of the medical profession in the United Kingdom. In order to carry out any sort of
medical work or training a doctor must first obtain registration with the GMC.
There are three types of registration, Full, Provisional and Limited.
Full Registration
Allows any form of medical employment in the UK, subject to work permit regulations.
Granted to:
 graduates of UK medical schools who have completed 12 months of pre-registration
house officer training.
 EEA nationals with EEA medical qualifications, and
 doctors who are eligible for the Specialist Register.
Application to Registration Division, General Medical Council (see page 20).
Provisional Registration
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Allows only supervised employment in approved pre-registration house officer posts.
Granted to doctors with primary medical qualifications eligible for full registration.
Convert to full registration on satisfactory completion of pre-registration requirement.
Limited Registration
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Allows employment supervised by a fully registered medical practitioner in an institution
approved for training.
Restriction of specialty and grade may be applied.
Granted to overseas doctors with qualifications and experience acceptable to the GMC.
Eligibility is decided on individual enquiry to the GMC (which should be submitted 9
months before proposed arrival in the UK).
Requirement to demonstrate competence in English language.
Requirement to pass or be exempt from the PLAB test.
Maximum period 5 years.
Conversion to full registration is possible after satisfactory progress in training (usually
after one year in the SHO grade) or re-qualification in the UK.
Application to Registration Division, GMC, with letter of appointment to training post. (NB
enquiry about eligibility is not an application).
The whole of registration is currently under review. There will be a single category of
registration for all doctors, linked to a licence to practice, which will require revalidation at
intervals.
7
PROFESSIONAL & LINGUISTIC ASSESSMENTSBOARD (PLAB) TEST
Before granting limited registration the GMC must be satisfied that an overseas doctor is
appropriately proficient in both the English language and medical practice. One way to
demonstrate this is to pass the PLAB test.
The level of the test is “sufficient to undertake safely employment at first year senior house
officer level in a British hospital”.
Before entering the PLAB test a doctor must achieve an overall score of 7.0 and a minimum
score of 6.0 in each of the four sections of the International English Language Testing
System (IELTS). This test is administered by the British Council at test centres throughout
the world
The PLAB test is in two parts: written and clinical. The written section, Part 1, has a multiple
choice question paper, clinical problem solving and photographic material. The clinical
section, Part 2 is in the form of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), a
circuit of 14 observed clinical activities such as history taking, examination, explaining
matters to patients, and procedures, each station lasting 5 minutes.
Application is to the PLAB test section, GMC. There is high demand for places, and you
should apply well in advance. Part 1 of the test is now being offered in centres in India, and
this is being extended to other countries.
Exemption from PLAB
EEA doctors are not required to take the PLAB test, but employers may require evidence of
satisfactory command of the English language.
Overseas doctors may be granted Limited Registration without taking the PLAB test in the
following circumstances:
completion of basic specialist training to the satisfaction of the relevant UK postgraduate
training body (for example, success in MRCP or MRCS)
appointment to a Type I specialist registrar post, i.e. one which leads to CCST
agreed quality assurance arrangements with a sponsoring body approved by the GMC
The previously available “senior doctor route” was terminated in 2001
A doctor seeking exemption from PLAB by any route must have achieved level 7.0 in all 4
sections of the IELTS, not just a mean score of 7.0.
A doctor who fails the PLAB test is not eligible for exemption by any route. If you are pursuing
exemption then do not attempt the PLAB test.
GOOD MEDICAL PRACTICE
The General Medical Council defines and administers professional standards. A good doctor
is judged not only on knowledge and skill, but also on the way he/she behaves and conducts
himself/herself. You probably already aspire to good practice, but you may notice some
differences in the way doctors behave towards patients in the UK compared with your own
country. You should be aware of these differences, and should conform to GMC guidelines.
These include:
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Make the care of the patient your first concern
Treat every patient politely and considerately
Respect patients’ dignity and privacy
Listen to patients and respect their views
8
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Give patients information in a way that they can understand
Respect the right of patients to be fully involved in decisions about their care
Keep your professional knowledge and skills up to date
Recognise the limits of your professional competence
Be honest and trustworthy
Respect and protect confidential information
Make sure that your personal beliefs do not prejudice your patients’ care
Act quickly to protect patients from risk if you have good reason to believe that you or a
colleague may not be fit to practice
Avoid abusing your position as a doctor
Work with colleagues in the ways that best serve patients’ interests.
In all these matters you must never discriminate unfairly against your patients or
colleagues and you must always be prepared to justify your actions to them.
This is largely about treating patients as you would wish to be treated yourself. A kind,
considerate doctor will not suffer many complaints, and will have the respect of patients and
colleagues.
9
PERMIT-FREE TRAINING
Employment in the UK is restricted, and overseas nationals normally require a work permit.
Doctors and dentists undertaking Postgraduate training in hospital or community health
services or in General (Medical) Practice may be employed without a work permit subject to
certain conditions, an arrangement called “Permit-Free Training”(PFT), which is administered
by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) of the Home Office.
To qualify for permit-free training you must:
Hold or be eligible for Full, Provisional or Limited GMC registration
Have evidence of appointment to a training post or programme
Be able to maintain yourself and any dependants without recourse to public funds
Intend to leave the UK on completion of training.
If you are not yet eligible for GMC registration (eg pending PLAB test) or have not yet
obtained a training post, you should have visitor status (which does not allow you to take any
paid employment), and you can apply to switch to PFT when appropriate.
Overseas nationals who graduate from UK medical schools having had a student visa must
switch to PFT in order to do pre-registration house officer posts in the UK.
Initial grant of permit-free training

Pre-registration house officer (PRHO)
12 months

Basic Specialist or General Professional Training (SHO)
Up to 3 years
Initial grant will usually be limited to six months or one year, or the duration of the first
appointment. Extension for up to three years may be granted with a maximum aggregate of
four years in the SHO grade. (This does not include any time spent as a PRHO).
There will be no extension beyond aggregate four years in the SHO grade.
Higher Specialist Training (Specialist Registrar)
General Practice Vocational Training Scheme (GP registrar)
Up to 3 years
Up to 3 years
Extensions for periods of up to 3 years to allow completion of the approved training
programme, subject to evidence of satisfactory progress.
(HST and GPVTS grant is regardless of time spent in the SHO grade. Even after exhausting
4 years PFT as an SHO you can apply for SpR or GPVTS posts as long as you have the
entry requirements, and once appointed you will be eligible for further PFT.)
Applying for an extension to permit-free training
Application is actually for an extension of leave to remain in the UK and is to the Immigration
and Nationality Directorate (IND) of the Home Office. From 1 August 2003 there is a fee for
consideration of each application - £250 for personal application at the Public Enquiry Offices
in Croydon, Birmingham, Liverpool or Glasgow for which you have to make prior
appointment; £155 for postal applications which take a few weeks. Application is on form
FLR(O), available from IND Application Forms Unit (see Appendix II) or
www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/content/ind/en/home.html Read the notes on the form carefully.
10
For permit-free training you will require:
 GMC or GDC registration certificate
 A document showing that you intend to undertake postgraduate training in a hospital.
This should be a letter of appointment from your employer giving start and finish dates of
your next or continuing post or rotation.
 Documentary evidence showing satisfactory progress in your postgraduate training.
Although the notes on form FLR(O) do not actually say so, this evidence should be
provided by form PF/PGD 2002 signed by the Postgraduate Dean.
Form PF/PGD2002 is available in either the Postgraduate centre or the medical staffing
department or both in all Trusts in Yorkshire. You should complete Part A in full, and should
then ask your supervising consultant to complete Part B, which includes agreement on your
training goals as described in Q6 of Part A and on your progress to date. The completed
form should be sent to the Postgraduate Dean with a letter of appointment as in b) above, at
least 6 weeks before expiry of your current passport stamp or as soon as you obtain a further
training post. The Dean makes a recommendation to the Home Office on Form
PF/PGD2002, but it is the Home Office that makes the decision. The period granted does not
usually exceed the duration of confirmed employment.
As an SHO you may need to apply for extension of leave to remain in the UK (sometimes
incorrectly referred to as Visa renewal) several times within the four-year period. Each
application will need a new form PF/PGD2002 as evidence of satisfactory progress in
training as outlined above. At the end of 3 years you must be sure that your goals are
achievable within the next year, and show that you are taking all necessary steps to attain
them.
There is no need to apply for further PFT on appointment to the SpR grade if you still have
time remaining from the SHO grade. You can wait until 6 weeks before the end of your
current grant before re-applying.
Spouse status
The spouse of a doctor with permit-free training can take spouse status, with which there is
no restriction on employment, so the spouse can do medical training without need for permitfree training or can do non-training posts if he or she has full GMC registration.
The spouse can later apply for Permit-Free Training in his or her own right, and, if this is
granted the doctor originally holding Permit-Free Training can seek to switch to spouse
status. Judicious use of these arrangements will allow a married couple both of whom are
doctors to extend their training time in the UK if necessary. Spouse status allows a partner
who has completed training and has full GMC registration to work in a non-training post, eg
Staff Grade, with no need for a work permit, while the other partner completes training.
11
GETTING ADVICE AND GUIDANCE
Far too many overseas doctors have been disappointed and disillusioned by the difficulties
they have encountered and by the absence of the opportunities they had expected. This is
usually because of lack of planning and failure to take proper advice. It is essential that you
have reliable and up-to-date information, and that you discuss your plans with appropriate
advisors both before you start and as events unfold.
You must have a realistic view of training in the various specialties and of your own
prospects and progress. The advice of colleagues in your own country may well be out of
date. There are many sources of advice available to you, and useful contacts are given in
the appendices (pages 19-25).
Department of Health
The government department responsible for running the National Health Service and for
medical education has a useful website with many links to other sites:
www.dh.gov.uk
British Council Offices
Have general and specific information on medical training in Britain and on the IELTS.
Doctors from countries with no British Council Office may write to the National Advice Centre
for Postgraduate Medical Education (NACPME). Overseas doctors in the UK may visit or
telephone the NACPME information centres.
General Medical Council (GMC)
Responsible for registration (and disciplinary matters) - see pages 6-8.
Royal Colleges
Oversee training in the specialties throughout the UK, and run the relevant professional
examinations. Most have specific advice arrangements for overseas doctors, and run
sponsorship schemes (giving exemption from PLAB test).
Postgraduate Deans
There are 15 Postgraduate Deans in England, 4 in Scotland and one each in Wales and
Northern Ireland. The Deans are responsible for medical training in the Deaneries,
geographical sectors based around the Medical Schools. The Postgraduate Dean for
Yorkshire is Dr Bill Burr, based in the Department for NHS Postgraduate Medical and Dental
Education in Leeds.
Regional Advisers
Each specialty has a Regional Adviser, appointed by the College, who knows about training
in the Deanery in that specialty and can give help and advice to individual doctors.
Specialty Training Committees
The Deanery has a Training Committee for each specialty, largely responsible for Higher
Medical Training. The Chairman of the committee is a useful source of help and advice on
training in the specialty. The larger specialties may have divided training into separate
programmes, each with a programme director who will look after training in a locality.
Directors of Postgraduate Medical Education or Clinical Tutors
Each Hospital Trust has a Postgraduate Medical Centre, with a Director or Clinical Tutor who
organises training and induction, and who is available to help and advise junior doctors. The
director can offer confidential counselling for a wide range of issues, or can direct you to
more appropriate help. The Manager of the Postgraduate Centre can also give a lot of help,
particularly in relation to study leave, but also on other matters.
12
College Tutors
The Royal Colleges appoint Tutors to represent the specialty in each Trust. The College
Tutor will organise the education programme and will have a responsibility for the educational
welfare of doctors in training in the specialty.
You can find out how to contact the relevant College Tutor though the Postgraduate Centre.
Educational Supervisors
Every doctor in training should have a Consultant identified as his or her Educational
Supervisor. This is likely to be a Consultant for whom you are working, but may not be. You
should meet your Educational Supervisor early in your appointment to discuss your plans and
opportunities, and should then meet at intervals to review progress.
Mentors
It can sometimes be helpful to talk to someone with experience and understanding of your
situation who is not directly involved in your training, known as a mentor. Arrangements in
Yorkshire are not uniform. Ask in the Postgraduate Centre or Medical Staffing department
about the mentor(s) for overseas doctors in your Trust. If necessary you can arrange to see a
mentor from a neighbouring Trust.
Associate Postgraduate Dean/Overseas Doctors
The Yorkshire Postgraduate Dean has an assistant, currently Dr Patrick Neligan, who deals
with all matters relating to overseas doctors and their training. He works part-time in the
Deanery Office in Leeds, and is available to see individual doctors by appointment. It should
be stressed, however, that the large number of overseas doctors in Yorkshire mean that this
should be a last resort. Most matters, can be resolved either in the Trust or within the
specialty. Initial enquiries to Dr Neligan should be in writing, setting out the problems and
your specific questions. A copy of your CV is helpful. Urgent enquiries can be made by
telephone on 0113 233 1567 or by e-mail, p.neligan@yorkshiredeanery.com
Medical Staffing/Personnel Department
Each employing hospital has managers responsible for junior doctors. They will deal with
your application, interview, appointment and contract. They can help with all matters relating
to your employment and working conditions, and can advise on domestic matters such as
accommodation. They will also know about future vacancies in training posts in the Trust. In
Yorkshire all Specialist Registrars are employed through the Medical Personnel Department
of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, but, once appointed, the Specialist Registrar
must also make contact with the Medical Staffing Department in the hospital where he/she
will be working in order to sort out local arrangements.
British Medical Association (BMA)
The BMA is a Trade Union for doctors. Membership gives access to a wide range of advice
and services. It also includes delivery of your own copy of the British Medical Journal each
week. Subscriptions are reduced for junior doctors, and are a tax allowable expense.
Medical Defence Organisations
There are several defence organisations of which the largest are the Medical Defence Union
(MDU) and the Medical Protection Society (MPS). They help doctors in difficulty with
complaints, disciplinary procedures or legal action. Although the employing Trust accepts
liability for a doctor’s actions, the Trust’s interests may not coincide with the doctor’s
interests. It is strongly recommended that doctors join one of the defence organisations from
whom they can obtain very valuable help, including legal advice and support.
13
OBTAINING A TRAINING POST
You will have to apply for posts in open competition. Posts are advertised by specialty in the
classified section of the British Medical Journal, the latest copy of which should be available
in any medical library.
Request an application form and job description. Check that the post is suitable for your
needs. Telephone the doctor who is currently in the post if you are not sure about this.
Send in the application form and your curriculum vitae before the closing date. If you have
missed the closing date then telephone to see if a late application can be accepted.
You may be invited for interview. Do not be too disappointed if you do not hear: most jobs
receive far more applicants than can be interviewed.
Try to give yourself time to look around and make enquiries before the interview. If you have
to travel a long way the hospital may provide overnight accommodation. Remember to apply
for travel expenses.
In the interview you need to present yourself as well as possible to the panel, but remember
that these are British doctors. They will appreciate clear, direct, honest answers. They may
seem rather unimpressed by what you have done overseas and by distinguished people for
whom you have worked. They will be more impressed by what you know, how you think and
what plans you have made.
You will usually be told at the end of the interview if you have been successful. If you are
offered a post then you may well be asked to give a firm commitment then and there. If you
accept the post then you must not withdraw at a later date, so be sure that you want the job.
If you have doubts then say so and ask for time or more information.
If you are unsuccessful then it is perfectly reasonable to ask to see one of the interviewing
Consultants to ask why you were not successful and for advice on what you can do
differently to improve your prospects of obtaining a post in the future. Try to make sure that
you get specific advice rather than generalisations.
14
STARTING A NEW JOB
Before you start a new job, find out about accommodation, what will happen on the first day
and when you will first be required to be on-call. The hospital medical staffing department
will either provide answers or will direct you to someone who knows.
Make contact with the outgoing doctor and, if possible, arrange to visit a few days before you
start to find out at first hand what is involved and for handover of problems where relevant.
Ideally you should have a period of work-shadowing before you start your first post.
You will have to complete a health questionnaire, and may be asked for interview or
examination. Make sure that you have appropriate certificate of Hepatitis B immunity.
If this is your first job, ensure that you have completed Home Office and GMC procedures. If
there is only a short interval between your successful appointment interview and your start
date this may require a visit to London with your papers, including your letter of appointment.
Before starting your first post in the UK you should have been given an opportunity to attend
a short residential programme of induction for overseas doctors. These courses are run in
various parts of the country, not necessarily where you will be working. They are provided
free of charge, funded by the Department of Health, and you are strongly recommended to
take advantage of attending a course. Enquiries about courses should be directed to
NHS Professionals: tel: 0845 120 3164
If you are unable to attend a course before you start then you should apply to attend one as
soon as possible after you start your first post.
On your first day the hospital will almost certainly run a local induction programme. Make
sure you attend. It is helpful if you contact your Consultant to say that you have arrived and
that you will be attending the induction. You can arrange to meet later in the day. During the
induction make sure that you find out about anything that you do not understand or that is
worrying you. Do not be afraid to ask questions.
If it is not already part of the induction programme, arrange to meet the senior nurses in the
areas where you will be working, including wards, clinics or theatres, to introduce yourself
and to find out what they expect of you and what you can expect of them. Remember that
nurses are professionals whose work is complementary to yours; they are not the doctors’
servants. Nurses can be enormously helpful to you or can make your life difficult, depending
on the relationship you develop with them, so make sure that it is the former.
If you require any leave in the early part of the job, for instance to sit an exam, contact the
medical staffing department and your Consultant for approval before you start. Do not wait
until you start and just assume that you will be able to take the leave, however important it is.
15
CLINICAL ATTACHMENTS
You may find it helpful to spend some time on clinical attachment, observing the culture,
language and practice of medicine in the UK. This might be:

While preparing for PLAB

Before taking up your first appointment, observing practice in the department/hospital
where you will be working, sometimes called work-shadowing.

Some doctors try to use a clinical attachment for “training” in preparation for professional
examinations, as neither GMC registration nor permit-free training status is required. This
is not a good plan; a clinical attachment will provide only familiarisation, not proper
training.
The role of the doctor on clinical attachment is strictly as an observer (see HSG(95)30 in
Appendix). (S)he may interview and examine patients under supervision, but the patient
must be made aware of the doctor’s observer status and must give prior consent. Observers
should not advise on treatment, carry out invasive procedures or prescribe. The period of
attachment is normally limited to between one and three months.
The observer is not employed by the hospital but must satisfy the hospital’s employment
regulations. The observer should wear an appropriate identification badge. Accommodation
is not normally available, and if it is provided a charge will be made.
To arrange a clinical attachment you should contact either an individual Consultant who has
been recommended to you, or the Director of Postgraduate Medical Education (sometimes
called the Clinical Tutor) at the hospital. You should send your curriculum vitae with a letter
explaining why you wish to do the attachment, and when. Be prepared to be flexible.
Having a doctor on clinical attachment requires time and commitment from the Consultant if
the arrangement is to be of any value. The increasing burdens of training and service mean
that many Consultants are now reluctant to accept clinical attachments.
16
DOMESTIC AND CULTURAL MATTERS
Accommodation
Most hospitals in Yorkshire will provide single accommodation on the hospital site once you
take up appointment, but you should ask about this as early as possible. Married
accommodation is usually limited but may be available on request.
You will have to pay rent, but usually less than in the private sector, and if your on-call duties
oblige you to be resident you should get an appropriate rebate. Find out what is included in
the rent and what extras you will have to pay.
Private rented accommodation may better suit your needs, but is more expensive, takes time
to arrange, and has potential pitfalls. Take advice from the medical staffing department or
hospital accommodation officer. Again make sure you know what is included in the rent and
what will be extra.
Banking
You must have a bank account into which your salary is paid. You may be able to choose a
UK bank that has an arrangement with your bank at home. Banking hours are restricted and
inconvenient when you are working so you should obtain a card that gives you access to
automatic cash machines. (There may be one in the hospital).
Taxation, National Insurance Contributions
The medical staffing department or payroll department will give you advice about this. You
have to pay various contributions, usually deducted from your salary.
Transport
If using public transport you will usually use trains between towns and buses within a town.
Train fares are complex, with saver tickets often cheaper if you book in advance. Taxis are
convenient but can be expensive. Ask about fares.
You will find it invaluable to have your own car. You should be able to buy a second-hand
car in good condition at a reasonable price from a reputable dealer. If you do not know a lot
about cars then take someone with you who does, or contact one of the motoring
organisations (The AA or RAC) who will inspect a car before you buy it (at a cost). You can
use your own (international) driving licence for a year, but then need to obtain a UK licence,
either by exchange or by passing the UK driving test. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing
Agency (DVLA) in Swansea (01792 772151) will advise. You also need to find out about
Road Tax (a disc which must be displayed in your car) and insurance.
Shopping
Take advice on types of shop, location and opening hours. Most shops are open Monday to
Saturday from about 9 am to 5.30 pm, some corner shops and supermarkets stay open until
8, 9 or 10 pm, and there may be a 24 hour supermarket in your vicinity. Some shops are
open for a few hours on Sundays. Most shops close on Bank Holidays or Public Holidays.
Families
If you wish to bring your family then you should come alone and arrange for your family to
follow once you have established yourself. In particular, you will need to organise
appropriate accommodation, either in the hospital or privately.
If you and your spouse are both working and you have small children then, unless you have
help from family, you should use either a registered child minder or a recommended nursery.
Ask if the hospital runs a crèche to look after the children of staff.
Schooling is provided free of charge. Children aged 5 to 11 years attend primary schools,
17
and then transfer to secondary schools from age 11 to 16 or 18 years. Allocation to schools
is made by the Education Department of the relevant Local Authority, which you can find in
the telephone directory, but it may be easiest to contact the Head Teacher of the local school
in the first instance.
Healthcare
It is very important that you register with a local General Practitioner on arrival; do not wait
until you are ill. You, your spouse and your children are entitled to free medical treatment,
but other visiting relatives are not. You can attend hospital casualty departments free of
charge in the event of accidents or emergencies. The hospital where you work will make a
pre-employment health check, and will advise on any aspects of health relating to your work.
Telephone
If your hospital accommodation has a phone connected to the hospital switchboard then you
will be charged for personal calls. The call charges may be higher than the telephone
company rates but you do not pay line rental. With the agreement of the hospital
management you can have your own phone installed by the telephone company. You will
have to pay an installation charge and line rental as well as call charges. You should explore
discount services for overseas calls.
As an alternative to a fixed telephone you may prefer to buy a mobile phone. The cost of the
phone is usually low, but monthly charges for the service and call charges are relatively high.
Make sure that the mobile phone is suitable for overseas calls.
Yorkshire and its people
Yorkshire was the largest of the old English counties, covering 6,000 square miles in the
North East of England, with a population of 6 million people, but administrative boundaries
have changed. Yorkshire Deanery covers only part of this area. The main population centre
is the Leeds-Bradford conurbation at the northern end of the M1 motorway from London.
The towns of Halifax, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Wakefield and Pontefract lie immediately to
the South of Leeds. The city of Hull is on the East coast, 60 miles from Leeds along the M62
motorway. The ancient city of York and the old county town of Harrogate are further north,
with Northallerton a bit further, and Scarborough, a seaside resort on the coast to the Northeast. There are training hospitals in all the towns mentioned, and at Airedale in the
Northwest and Cottingham near to Hull.
Large parts of the county are occupied by areas of natural beauty, the Yorkshire Dales
National Park in the West and the North Yorkshire Moors National Park in the East. There
are many historic buildings of great interest in the towns and country. Further information is
available from local Tourist Boards.
The people of Yorkshire are generally friendly and welcoming. They may be a bit blunt,
asking direct questions and saying exactly what they mean, which can be a bit disconcerting
if you are not used to it. You may find the dialect hard to understand, but people will help you
if you ask.
Women do not lead sheltered lives. They take an active part in all aspects of life and work.
Men and women are treated as equals, and it is important that you recognise this, both in
your work, and in social settings.
You will notice that nurses address patients of all ages by their first names, John or Mary.
Patients would normally expect doctors to be more formal, addressing them as Mrs Smith
(married), Miss Jones (unmarried), or Mr Johnson. If you are in any doubt, ask politely what
you should do.
18
CONTACTS AND ADDRESSES:
THE ROYAL COLLEGES
Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCA)
48-49 Russell Square, London WC1B 4JY
Tel: 020 7813 1900
Fax: 020 7813 1876
E-mail: info@rcoa.ac.uk
ODTS:
Tel: 020 7908 7344
Fax: 020 7636 8280
E-mail: odts@rcoa.ac.uk
www.rcoa.ac.uk
Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth)
17 Cornwall Terrace, London, NW1 4QW
Tel: 020 7935 0702
Fax: 020 7935 9838
ODTS administrator: Beth Barnes
Tel: 020 7935 0702 ext 207
E-mail: beth.barnes@rcophth.ac.uk
www.rcophth.ac.uk
Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health (RCPCH)
50 Hallam Street, London W1W 6DE
Tel: 020 7307 5600
E-mail: enquiries@rcpch.ac.uk
IPTS administrator: Kim Pickersgill
Tel: 020 7307 5638
Fax: 020 7307 5693
E-mail: kim.pickersgill@rcpch.ac.uk
www.rcpch.ac.uk
Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh
(RCPE)
9 Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 1JQ
Tel: 0131 225 7324
Fax: 0131 220 3939
ODTS: closed to new applicants
E-mail: c.gray@rcpe.ac.uk
www.rcpe.ac.uk
Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych)
17 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG
Tel: 020 7235 2351
Fax: 020 7245 1231
E-mail: rcpsych@rcpsych.ac.uk
CASS: Mrs Marion Palmer-Jones/Mrs Joanna Carroll
Tel: 020 7235 2351 ext 108/123
www.rcpsych.ac.uk
Royal College of Surgeons (RCS)
35-43 Lincolns Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE
Tel: 020 7405 3474
ODTS:
Tel: 020 7869 6231
E-mail: odt@rcseng.ac.uk
www.rcseng.ac.uk
ODTS =Overseas Doctors Training Scheme
OFS = Overseas Fellowship Scheme
IPTS = International Paediatric Training Scheme
ISS = International Sponsorship Scheme
CASS = Consultant Assisted Sponsorship Scheme
19
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
(RCOG)
27 Sussex Place, Regents Park, London, NW1
4RG
Tel: 020 7772 6200
Fax: 020 7723 0575
OFS administrator: Binta Patel
Tel: 020 7772 6223
E-mail: bpatel@rcog.org.uk
www.rcog.org.uk
Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath)
2 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AF
Tel: 020 7451 6700
Fax: 020 7451 6701
E-mail: exams@rcpath.org
www.rcpath.ac.uk
Royal College of Physicians of England (RCP)
11 St Andrews Place, Regents Park, London NW1
4LE
Tel: 020 7935 1174
Fax: 020 7487 5218
ISS administrator: Matthew Foster
Tel: 020 7935 1174 ext 319
E-mail: matthew.foster@rcplondon.ac.uk
www.rcplondon.ac.uk
Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of
Glasgow (RCPSG)
232-242 St Vincent St, Glasgow, G2 5RJ
Tel: 0141 221 6072
Fax: 0141 221 1804
ODTS: Mrs Norma Rutherford
E-mail: norma.rutherford@rcpsg.ac.uk
www.rcpsg.ac.uk
Royal College of Radiologists (RCR)
38 Portland Place, London W1B 1JQ
Tel: 020 7636 4432 Fax: 020 7323 3100
E- mail: enquiries@rcr.ac.uk
www.rcr.ac.uk
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSE)
Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DW
Tel: 0131 527 1600
Fax 0131 557 6406
ODTS Administrator: Celia Mackie
Information Section
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Adamson Centre, 3 Hill Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9DS
Tel: 0131 668 9222
Fax: 0131 668 9218
E-mail: c.mackie@rcsed.ac.uk
www.rcsed.ac.uk
OTHER NATIONAL BODIES
GMC Registration (incl fees) and PLAB test
Tel: 08453 573456
Fax: 020 7915 3532
E-mail: registrationhelp@gmc-uk.org
General Medical Council
178 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5JE
Tel: 020 7580 7642
Fax: 020 7915 3641
E-mail: gmc@gmc-uk.org
www.gmc-uk.org
The British Council
Bridgewater House, 58 Whitworth St,
Manchester M1 6BB
Tel: 0161 957 7000
Fax: 0161 957 7111
E-mail: general.enquiries@britishcouncil.org
www.britishcouncil.org/governance
IELTS: British Council Information Centre
Tel: 0161 957 7755 Fax: 0161957 7762
e-mail: general.enquiries@britishcouncil.org
National Advice Centre for Postgraduate
Medical Education
Bridgewater House, 58 Whitworth Street,
Manchester, M1 6BB
Tel: 0161 957 7218
Fax: 0161 957 7029
E-mail: nacpme@britishcouncil.org
Examination Services (IELTS)
The British Council, 10 Spring Gardens,
London SW1A 2BN
Tel: 020 7930 8466
Fax: 020 7389 6347
www.ielts.org
Department of Health website
www.dh.gov.uk
Work Permits (UK)
Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Home Office, Level 5, Moorfoot, Sheffield,
S1 4PQ
Tel: 0114 259 4074
Fax: 0114 259 3776
E-mail: wpcustomers@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
www.workingintheuk.gov.uk
Immigration & Nationality Directorate
Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon,
CR9 2BY
General enquiries: 0870 606 7766
E-mail: indpublicenquiries@ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
Application Forms Unit: 0870 241 0645
(Calls charged at national rate)
Forms can be downloaded from:
www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
For personal callers only:
Birmingham Public Enquiry Office (PEO)
Dominion Court
41 Station Road
Solihull
Birmingham
B91 3RT
Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm
Tel: 0121 704 5450
British Medical Association
BMA House
Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9JR
www.bma.org.uk
Medical Defence Organisations:
For personal callers only:
Liverpool Public Enquiry Office (PEO)
Reliance House
20 Water Street
Liverpool
L2 8XU
Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm
Tel: 0151 237 0405
BMA Northern & Yorkshire Region
Gladstone House, Lawnswood Business Park,
Redvers Close, Leeds, LS16 6SS
Tel: 0113 230 4417
Fax: 0113 230 6144
Medical Protection Society
Granary Wharf House, 2 Canal Wharf, Leeds, LS11 5PY
Tel: 0845 605 4000
Fax: 0113 241 0500
E-mail: info@mps.org.uk
www.mps.org.uk
20
The Medical Defence Union
MDU Services Limited,
230 Blackfriars Road,
London, SE1 8PJ
Tel: 020 7202 1500
E-mail: mdu@the-mdu.com
www.the-mdu.com
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL ADVISERS
SPECIALTY
REGIONAL ADVISER
STC CHAIRMAN
ACCIDENT &
EMERGENCY
Mr A F Shenton
Regional Adviser in
Accident & Emergency
Bradford Royal Infirmary
BRADFORD BD9 6RJ
Mr A Wass
A&E STC Chair
Pinderfields General
Hospital
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
ANAESTHESIA
Dr C S Evans
Regional Adviser in
Anaesthetics
Bradford Royal Infirmary
BRADFORD BD9 6RJ
Dr R Cruickshank
Anaesthesia STC Chair
St James’s University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
Dr D Gilson
Regional Adviser in
Clinical Oncology
Cookridge Hospital
LEEDS LS16 6QB
Dr D Gilson
Oncology STC Chair
Cookridge Hospital
LEEDS LS16 6QB
MEDICINE
Dr J Tucker
Regional Adviser in
Medicine
St Luke’s Hospital
Little Horton Road
BRADFORD BD5 0NA
Mr M Glass
Regional Adviser in
Obstetrics
D Floor, Clarendon Wing
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Professor W A Burr
Postgraduate Dean
Yorkshire Deanery
Willow Terrace Road
The University of Leeds
LEEDS LS2 9JT
Mr D Pring
Obs & Gynae STC Chair
York District Hospital
YORK YO31 8HE
OBSTETRICS
&GYNAECOLOGY
TRAINING
PROGRAMME
DIRECTOR(S)
Mr A Wass
Programme Director in
A & E Medicine
Pinderfields General
Hospital
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
Dr R Cruickshank
Training Programme
Director in Anaesthesia
St James’s University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Dr B Gray
Training Programme
Director in Anaesthesia:
East Coast
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Dr M Leahy
Training Programme
Director in Oncology
St James’s University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
See page 23
East:
Mr D Pring
West:
Mr R Rand
Training Programme
Director
Bradford Royal Infirmary
BRADFORD BD9 6RJ
Leeds:
OCCUPATIONAL
MEDICINE
Dr J Shepherd
Regional Specialty
Adviser in Occupational
Medicine
St James’s University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Dr J Shepherd
Occupational Medicine
STC Chair
St James’s University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
21
Miss S Kaufmann
Training Programme
Director
Huddersfield Royal
Infirmary
HUDDERSFIELD
HD3 3EA
Dr J Shepherd
Training Programme
Director in Occupational
Medicine
St James’s University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL ADVISERS (Cont.)
SPECIALTY
REGIONAL ADVISER
STC CHAIRMAN
OPHTHALMOLOGY
Mr J Bradbury
Regional Adviser in
Ophthalmology
Bradford Royal Infirmary
BRADFORD BD9 6RJ
Mr J Bradbury
Ophthalmology STC
Chair
Bradford Royal Infirmary
BRADFORD BD9 6RJ
PAEDIATRICS
Dr P Holland
Regional Adviser in
Paediatrics
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr P R F Dear
Paediatrics STC Chair
St James’s University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
PSYCHIATRY
Dr C Simpson
Regional Adviser in
Psychiatry
Friarage Hospital
NORTHALLERTON
DL6 1JG
Dr J Fear
Faculty Adviser for Public
Health Medicine
Leeds West PCT
Bremner House
Gelderd Business Park
LEEDS LS12 6QD
Dr W Burn
Consultant Psychiatrist
Towngate House
1 Towngate Close
GUISLEY LS20 9LM
Dr R J H Robertson
Regional Adviser in
Radiology
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr R J H Robertson
Radiology STC Chair
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
PUBLIC HEALTH
RADIOLOGY
SURGERY (including
paediatric surgery)
Mr J MacFie
Regional Adviser in
Surgery
Scarborough Hospital
SCARBOROUGH
YO12 6QL
Dr D Shickle
Public Health Medicine
STC Chair
SCARR
University of Sheffield
SHEFFIELD S10 2TN
Prof. P Guillou
General Surgery STC
Chair
Academic Unit of Surgery
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
22
TRAINING
PROGRAMME
DIRECTOR(S)
Mr I Simmons
Training Programme
Director in Ophthalmology
St James’s University
Hospital
LEEDS LS2 9JT
Dr S Jones
Training Programme
Director in Paediatrics
Pinderfields General
Hospital
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
See page 25
Dr M Robinson
Training Programme
Director for Public
Health Medicine
Nuffield Institute for
Health
71-75 Clarendon Road
LEEDS LS2 9PL
Leeds/Bradford:
Dr P O’Connor
Training Programme
Director in Radiology
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Hull/York:
Dr D Ettles
Training Programme
Director in Radiology
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Mr J MacFie
Training Programme
Director in General
Surgery
Scarborough Hospital
SCARBOROUGH
YO12 6QL
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISERS (Medicine)
SPECIALTY
REGIONAL SPECIALTY
ADVISER
STC CHAIRMAN
Cardiology
Dr G Reynolds
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Cardiology
Yorkshire Heart Centre
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr C Walton
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Diabetes &
Endocrinology
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Dr G Reynolds
Cardiology STC Chair
Yorkshire Heart Centre
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr V Goulden
Dr R A Sheehan-Dare
Dermatology STC Chair
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Diabetes & Endo
Dermatology
Dr C Walton
Diabetes & Endocrinology
STC Chair
Hull Royal Infirmary
Anlaby Road
HULL HU3 2JZ
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Dermatology
Gastroenterology
General (Internal)
Medicine
Genetics
Genito-urinary Medicine
Geriatrics
Infectious Diseases
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr M Dakkak
Regional Specialty
Adviser in
Gastroenterology
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Dr A Arnold
Regional Speciality
Adviser in General
(Internal) Medicine
Castle Hill Hospital
COTTINGHAM
HU16 5JQ
Dr C Bennett
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Clinical
Genetics
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Dr J D Wilson
Regional Speciality
Adviser in GU Medicine
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr N Penn
Regional Specialty
Adviser in Geriatrics
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Dr P Stanley
Regional Specialty
Adviser in Infectious
Diseases
Bradford Royal Infirmary
BRADFORD BD9 6RJ
23
Dr M Dakkak
Gastroenterology STC
Chair
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Dr A Arnold
General (Internal)
Medicine STC Chair
Castle Hill Hospital
COTTINGHAM
HU16 5JQ
No formal STC
Dr J D Wilson
GU Medicine STC Chair
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr N Penn
Geriatrics STC Chair
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
No formal STC
TRAINING
PROGRAMME
DIRECTOR(S)
Dr G Reynolds
Training Programme
Director in Cardiology
Yorkshire Heart Centre
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr C Walton
Training Programme
Director in Diabetes &
Endocriilogy
Hull Royal Infirmary
Anlaby Road
HULL HU3 2JZ
Dr V Goulden
Training Programme
Director in Dermatology
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr M Dakkak
Training Programme
Director in
Gastroenterology
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Dr A Arnold
Training Programme
Director in General
(Internal) Medicine
Castle Hill Hospital
COTTINGHAM
HU16 5JQ
Dr C G Woods
Training Programme
Director in Genetics
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Dr J D Wilson
Training Programme
Director in GU Medicine
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr N Penn
Training Programme
Director in Geriatrics
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Dr P Stanley
Training Programme
Director in Infectious
Diseases
Bradford Royal Infirmary
BRADFORD BD9 6RJ
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISERS (Medicine)(Cont.)
SPECIALTY
REGIONAL SPECIALTY
ADVISER
STC CHAIRMAN
Medical Oncology
Dr P Patel
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Medical
Oncology
Dept of Cancer Medicine
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Dr D Eadington
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Nephrology
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Dr S Jamieson
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Neurology
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr M Stockton
Regional Specialty
Adviser in Palliative
Medicine
St Gemma’s Hospice
329 Harrogate Road
Moortown
LEEDS LS17 6QD
Dr R Kent
Regional Specialty
Adviser in Rehabilitation
Medicine
Pinderfields General
Hospital
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
Dr D Currie
Regional Speciality
Advisor in Respiratory
Medicine
Dewsbury District
Hospital
DEWSBURY WF13 4HS
Dr C Pease
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Rheumatology
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr D Gilson
Oncology STC Chair
Cookridge Hospital
LEEDS LS16 6QB
Nephrology
Neurology
Palliative Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine
Respiratory Medicine
Rheumatology
Dr D Eadington
Nephrology STC Chair
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Dr S Jamieson
Neurology STC Chair
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr M Stockton
Palliative Medicine STC
Chair
St Gemma’s Hospice
329 Harrogate Road
Moortown
LEEDS LS17 6QD
No formal STC
Dr D Currie
Respiratory Medicine
STC Chair
Dewsbury District
Hospital
DEWSBURY WF13 4HS
Dr C Pease
Rheumatology STC Chair
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
TRAINING
PROGRAMME
DIRECTOR(S)
Dr M Leahy
Training Programme
Director in Oncology
Dept of Cancer Medicine
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Dr D Eadington
Training Programme
Director in Nephrology
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Dr S Jamieson
Training Programme
Director in Neurology
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr M Stockton
Training Programme
Director in Palliative
Medicine
St Gemma’s Hospice
329 Harrogate Road
Moortown
LEEDS LS17 6QD
Dr R Kent
Training Programme
Director in Rehabilitation
Medicine
Pinderfields General
Hospital
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
Dr D Currie
Training Programme
Director in Respiratory
Medicine
Dewsbury District
Hospital
DEWSBURY WF13 4HS
Dr C Pease
Training Programme
Director in Rheumatology
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISERS (Pathology)
Chemical Pathology
Dr J Horner
Regional Specialty
Adviser in Chemical
Pathology
St James’s University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Dr J Horner
Chemical Pathology STC
Chair
St James’s University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
24
Dr J Horner
Training Programme
Director in Chemical
Pathology
St James’s University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISERS (Pathology)(Cont.)
SPECIALTY
REGIONAL SPECIALTY
ADVISER
STC CHAIRMAN
Haematology
Dr C Carter
Regional Specialty
Adviser in Haematology
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Dr W Merchant
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Histopathology
Algernon Firth Building
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr H C Gooi
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Immunology
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Dr M Denton
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Microbiology
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS2 9JT
Dr C Carter
Haematology STC Chair
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Histopathology
Immunology
Microbiology
Dr W Merchant
Histopathology STC Chair
Algernon Firth Building
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
No formal STC
Dr M Denton
Microbiology STC Chair
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS2 9JT
TRAINING
PROGRAMME
DIRECTOR(S)
Dr C Carter
Training Programme
Director in Haematology
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Dr W Merchant
Training Programme
Director in Histopathology
Algernon Firth Building
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Dr H C Gooi
Training Programme
Director in Immunology
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Dr M Denton
Training Programme
Director in Microbiology
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS2 9JT
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISERS (Psychiatry)
Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry
Forensic Psychiatry
General Adult
Psychiatry
Learning Disability
Dr S Aldridge
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Child &
Adolescent Psychiatry
Littlewood House Hall
18 Clarendon Road
LEEDS LS2 9NT
Dr J Kent
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Forensic
Psychiatry
Newton Lodge
Ouchthorpe Lane
WAKEFIELD WF1 3SP
Dr F McKenzie
Regional Adviser in
General Adult Psychiatry
Millfield House
Kirk Lane
Yeadon
LEEDS LS19 7LX
Dr S Aldridge
Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry STC Chair
Littlewood House Hall
18 Clarendon Road
LEEDS LS2 9NT
Dr B Easby
Regional Specialty
Adviser in Learning
Disabilities
Acomb Health Centre
1 Beech Grove
YORK YO26 5LD
No formal STC
25
No formal STC
Dr F McKenzie
General Adult Psychiatry
STC Chair
Millfield House
Kirk Lane
Yeadon
LEEDS LS19 7LX
Dr S Aldridge
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Child &
Adolescent Psychiatry
Littlewood House Hall
18 Clarendon Road
LEEDS LS2 9NT
Dr J Kent
Training Programme
Director in Forensic
Psychiatry
Newton Lodge
Ouchthorpe Lane
WAKEFIELD WF1 3SP
Dr F McKenzie
Training Programme
Director in General Adult
Psychiatry
Millfield House
Kirk Lane
Yeadon
LEEDS LS19 7LX
Dr B Easby Training
Programme Director in
Learning Disabilities
Acomb Health Centre
1 Beech Grove
YORK YO26 5LD
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISERS (Psychiatry)(Cont.)
SPECIALTY
REGIONAL SPECIALTY
ADVISER
STC CHAIRMAN
Old Age Psychiatry
Dr W Burn
Regional Specialty
Adviser in Old Age
Psychiatry
Towngate House
1 Towngate Close
GUISLEY LS20 9LM
Dr J Johnston
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Psychotherapy
Southfield House
40 Clarendon Rd
LEEDS LS2 9PJ
No formal STC
Psychotherapy
No formal STC
TRAINING
PROGRAMME
DIRECTOR(S)
Dr W Burn
Training Programme
Director in Old Age
Psychiatry
Towngate House
1 Towngate Close
GUISLEY LS20 8LL
Dr J Johnston
Training Programme
Director in Psychotherapy
Southfield House
40 Clarendon Rd
LEEDS LS2 9PJ
YORKSHIRE REGIONAL SPECIALTY ADVISERS (Surgery)
Cardiothoracic
Surgery
ENT Surgery
Neurosurgery
Orthopaedics &
Trauma
Plastic Surgery
Urology
Mr S Kendall
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Cardiothoracic
Surgery
The James Cook
University Hospital,
MIDDLESBROUGH
TS4 3BW
Mr C R Newbegin
Regional Specialty
Adviser in ENT
Huddersfield Royal
Infirmary
HUDDERSFIELD
HD3 3EA
Mr P van Hille
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Neurosurgery
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Mr K Sherman
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Orthopaedics
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
Mr A J Mearns
Cardiothoracic STC Chair
Bradford Royal Infirmary
Duckworth Lane
BRADFORD BD9 6RJ
Mr L Guvendik
Training Programme
Director in Cardiothoracic
Surgery
Castle Hill Hospital
COTTINGHAM
HU16 5JQ
Mrs H Cruikshank
ENT STC Chair
Pinderfields General
Hospital
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
Mrs H Cruikshank
Training Programme
Director in ENT
Pinderfields General
Hospital
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
No formal STC
Mr O Fenton
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Plastic Surgery
Pinderfields General
Hospital
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
Mr M Ferro
Regional Speciality
Adviser in Urology
Huddersfield Royal
Infirmary
HUDDERSFIELD
HD3 3EA
Mr O Fenton
Plastic Surgery STC
Chair
Pinderfields General
Hospital
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
Mr Appleyard
Urology STC Chair
Airedale General Hospital
Skipton Road
KEIGHLEY BD20 6TD
Mr P van Hille
Training Programme
Director in Neurosurgery
Leeds General Infirmary
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Mr D Limb
Training Programme
Director in Orthopaedics
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Mr O Fenton
Training Programme
Director in Plastic Surgery
Pinderfields General
Hospital
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
Mr J Cartledge
Training Programme
Director in Urology
St James’ University
Hospital
LEEDS LS9 7TF
26
Mr K Sherman
Orthopaedics STC Chair
Hull Royal Infirmary
HULL HU3 2JZ
HOSPITAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Airedale General Hospital, Keighley
01535 652511
Bradford Royal Infirmary
01274 542200
Bridlington & District Hospital
01262 606666
Calderdale Royal Hospital, Halifax
01422 357171
Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham
01482 875875
Chapel Allerton Hospital
0113 262 3404
Cookridge Hospital, Leeds
0113 267 3411
Dewsbury & District Hospital
01924 512000
Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby
01472 874111
Friarage Hospital, Northallerton
01609 779911
Harrogate District Hospital
01423 885959
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary
01484 342000
Hull Royal Infirmary
01482 328541
Leeds General Infirmary
0113 243 2799
Pinderfields General Hospital, Wakefield
01924 201688
Pontefract General Infirmary
01977 600600
Princess Royal Hospital, Hull
01482 701151
Scarborough General Hospital
01723 368111
Scunthorpe General Hospital
01724 282282
Seacroft Hospital, Leeds
0113 264 8164
St James University Hospital, Leeds
0113 243 3144
St Luke’s Hospital, Bradford
01274 734744
St Luke’s Hospital, Huddersfield
01484 654711
Wharfedale General Hospital
01943 465522
York District Hospital
01904 631313
Goole & District Hospital
01405 720720
27
YORKSHIRE DIRECTORS OF POSTGRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION
AIREDALE
Dr J R Baker
Director of PGME
Postgraduate Centre
Dept of Medical Education
Airedale General Hospital
Skipton Road, Steeeton
KEIGHLEY BD20 6TD
Tel: 01535 294375
GRIMSBY
Dr J Adiotomri
Associate Director of PGME
Diana Princess of Wales
Hospital
Scartho Road
GRIMSBY DN33 2BA
Tel: 01472 875275
HUDDERSFIELD
Dr S Kaufman
Director of PGME
Learning & Development
Centre
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary
HUDDERSFIELD HD3 3EA
Tel: 01484 342826
BRADFORD
Mr D Wilkinson
Director of PGME
Fieldhouse Teaching Centre
Bradford Royal Infirmary
Duckworth Lane
BRADFORD BD9 6RJ
Tel: 01274 364419
DEWSBURY
Dr A Jackson & Dr J Brook
Clinical Tutors
Oakwell Centre for Learning &
Development
Dewsbury & District Hospital
DEWSBURY WF13 4HS
Tel: 01924 816246
HALIFAX
Dr S N Chandratre
Clinical Tutor
Learning & Development
Centre
Calderdale Royal Hospital
HALIFAX HX3 0PW
Tel: 01422 224385
HULL & EAST YORKSHIRE
Dr C Melville
Director of PGME
East Riding Medical Education
Centre
Hull Royal Infirmary
Anlaby Road
HULL HU3 2JX
Tel: 01482 604313
HARROGATE
Dr P G Hammond
Director of PGME
Strayside Educational Centre
Harrogate District Hospital
Lancaster Park Road
HARROGATE HG2 7SX
Tel: 01423 553094
LEEDS GENERAL
INFIRMARY
NORTHALLERTON
Dr A Isdale
Director of PGME
Study Centre
Department of PGME
Friarage Hospital
NORTHALLERTON DL6 1JG
Tel: 01609 762056
Dr O Corrado
Clinical Tutor
Littlewood Hall Postgraduate
Centre
Leeds General Infirmary
Great George Street
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Tel: 0113 392 2138
PONTEFRACT
Dr A Harvey
Director of PGME
The Douglas Pickup
Postgraduate Centre
Pontefract General Infirmary
Friarwood Lane
PONTEFRACT WF8 1PL
Tel: 01977 606361
ST JAMES’ UNIVERSITY
HOSPITAL
Mr P Kent
Director of PGME
Postgraduate Centre
2nd Floor, Ashley Wing
St James’ University
Hospital
Beckett Street
LEEDS LS9 7TF
Tel: 0113 2066152
SCARBOROUGH
Mr E P Perry
Director of PGME
Scarborough Hospital
Woodlands Drive
SCARBOROUGH YO12 6QL
Tel: 01723 342077
YORK
Dr J Thow
Director of PGME
Postgraduate Centre
York District Hospital
Wigginton Road
YORK YO31 8HE
Tel: 01904 454325
28
LEEDS – COMMUNITY &
MENTAL HEALTH
Dr P Bowie
Director of Leeds Mental
Health Trust
Leeds MHT Postgraduate Dept
The Annexe, The Mount
44 Hyde Terrace
LEEDS LS2 9LN
Tel: 0113 3056227
PINDERFIELDS
Dr D Nagi or Mr A Browning
Clinical Tutors
Postgraduate Centre
Pinderfields General Hospital
Aberford Road
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
Tel: 01924 212391
SCUNTHORPE
Mr S Odukoya
Director of PGME
Scunthorpe General
Hospital
Cliffe Gardens
SCUNTHORPE DN15 7BH
Tel: 01724 282282
MENTORS FOR OVERSEAS DOCTORS
AIREDALE
Mr Ali Nejim
Consultant Surgeon
Airedale General Hospital
Skipton Road, Steeton
KEIGHLEY BD20 6TD
Tel: 01535 652511
BRADFORD
Dr Sanjeeva Gupta
Consultant Anaesthetist
Dept of Anaesthesia
Bradford Royal Infirmary
Duckworth Lane
BRADFORD
BD9 6RJ
Tel: 01274 364065
HALIFAX
Dr S N Chandratre
Consultant Geriatrician
Halifax General Hospital
Salterhebble
HALIFAX HX3 OPW
Tel: 01422 357171
HULL & EAST RIDING
COMMUNITY
Dr Francis Umerah
Consultant Paediatrician
Hull & East Riding Community
Trust
The Children’s Centre
70 Walker Street
HULL HU3 2HE
Tel:
HULL & EAST YORKSHIRE
Dr A Pathak
Assoc Specialist,
Orthopaedics
Castle Hill Hospital
Castle Rd
COTTINGHAM HU16 9JQ
Tel: 01482 623342
PONTEFRACT
Mr M Basheer
Consultant Surgeon
Pontefract General Infirmary
Southgate
PONTEFRACT WF9 1PL
Tel: 01977-600600
SCARBOROUGH
Dr S K Chatterjee
Consultant Geriatrician
Scarborough Hospital
Woodlands Drive
SCARBOROUGH YO12 6QL
Tel: 01723-368111
BRADFORD
Dr D Newton
Consultant Physician
C Floor
Fieldhouse Teaching Centre
Bradford Royal Infirmary
Duckworth Lane
BRADFORD
BD9 6RJ
Tel: 01274 364294
DEWSBURY
Mrs T Tariq
Consultant Obstetrician
Dewsbury District Hospital
Healds Road
DEWSBURY WF13 4HS
Tel: 01924 465105
HARROGATE
Dr J Krishna
Consultant Histopathologist,
Harrogate District Hospital,
Lancaster Park Road
HARROGATE HG2 7SX
Tel: 01423 553092
HULL & EAST YORKSHIRE
Dr Fayez Ahmed
Consultant Neurologist
Department of Neurology
Hull Royal Infirmary
Anlaby Road
HULL HU3 2JZ
Tel: 01482 675591/2
LEEDS GENERAL
INFIRMARY
Dr J Turney
Consultant Physician
Leeds General Infirmary
Great George Street
LEEDS LS1 3EX
Tel: 0113 243 2799
PONTEFRACT
Dr Soumitra Dutta
Associate College Tutor in
Medicine
Department of Medicine
Pontefract General Hospital
Friarwood Lane
PONTEFRACT WF8 1PL
Tel: 01977 600600
WAKEFIELD
Dr U Raja
Consultant Pathologist
Pinderfields General Hospital
Aberford Road
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
Tel: 01924 213643
Sec: 01924 212566
29
BRADFORD
Mr Faruque Ghanchi
Consultant
Department of Ophthalmology
Bradford Royal Infirmary
Duckworth Lane
BRADFORD BD9 6RJ
Tel: 01274 364117
DEWSBURY
Dr Jennifer Edwards
Consultant in Childhood &
Adolescent Psychiatry
Dewsbury & District Hospital
Halifax Road
DEWSBURY WF13 4HS
Tel: 01924 512014
HUDDERSFIELD
Mr M Aldoori
Consultant Surgeon
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary
Acre Street, Lindley
HUDDERSFIELD HD3 3EA
Tel: 01484 422191
HULL & EAST YORKSHIRE
Dr M Donaldson
Consultant Anaesthetist
Hull Royal Infirmary
Anlaby Road
HULL HU3 2JZ
Tel: 01482 328541
LEEDS MENTAL HEALTH
Dr T M Kumar
Consultant Psychiatrist
Dept of Liaison Psychiatry
Becklin Centre
Alma Street
LEEDS LS9 7BE
Tel: 0113 305 6730
SCARBOROUGH
Mr Patrick Akar
Consultant
Accident & Emergency Dept
Scarborough Hospital
Woodlands Drive
SCARBOROUGH YO12 6QL
Tel: 01723 368111
WAKEFIELD
Dr Aneel Sohal
Consultant Microbiologist
Pinderfields General Hospital
Aberford Road
WAKEFIELD WF1 4DG
Tel: 01924-201688
MENTORS FOR OVERSEAS DOCTORS IN YORKSHIRE (continued)
YORK
Dr T Verghese
Staff Grade in Paediatrics
C/o Dr Harran’s Secretary
York District Hospital
Wiggington Road
YORK YO31 7HE
Tel: 01904 631313
These are senior doctors, interested in the training and welfare of Overseas Doctors. They
are happy to provide support for individual doctors on a confidential basis. This might be to
sort out a particular problem, but need not be. It may be for advice, guidance or reassurance
on work-related or pastoral matters, with particular concern for the needs of doctors
unfamiliar with the culture of the United Kingdom and the NHS. The mentor can, where both
parties agree that it is appropriate, involve others with relevant expertise.
The mentor can be contacted directly or through the Postgraduate Centre or the Medical
Staffing department.
30