In response to the GMC 2023 workforce report ‘The state of medical education and practice in the UK’, Dr Naeem Nazem, head of medical at the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, said:
“We welcome this report by the GMC which recognises the value international medical graduates (IMGs) bring to the NHS and the urgent need to improve their experience of working in the NHS.
“The GMC has forecast that the NHS will need to recruit almost one-third of its medical workforce from abroad by 2036.
“This is a call to action.
“We can no longer tolerate a situation where, as we found in our latest survey, three-in-five IMGs are subject to ‘everyday’ incidents of racist microaggression.
“These hurtful abuses rapidly mount up to become anything but ‘micro’ in their impact.
“Regardless of whether these incidents are intentional, incidental or inadvertent it is important they are called out as racism.
“Yet our survey found a substantial majority of these abuses – 72 per cent – go unreported because IMGs believe if they speak up their experience won’t be taken seriously.
“IMGs face multiple challenges when working in the UK and it is therefore crucial that they are welcomed and properly inducted into their new working environment.
“We are calling on the GMC to use its influence with NHS Trusts and health boards to ensure doctors can report concerns via processes that are accessible and trusted to deliver results.
“This action, alongside improved induction and training, is essential if the NHS is to attract and retain the substantial workforce of international medical graduates it needs in order to treat patients effectively.”
ENDS
Notes
The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) is a mutual organisation that protects the professional interests of more than 56,000 doctors and dentists across the United Kingdom, offering access to indemnity, support and legal advice.
We have launched a campaign called We Hear You because we believe that no medical professional should be subjected to behaviour from patients or colleagues that, intentionally or unintentionally, calls into question their experience and abilities as a doctor or dentist.
For further information, please contact Alison Hardie, head of strategic communications and public affairs, on ahardie@mddus.com or on 07501 421398
This page was correct at the time of publication. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.