Dr Berger produced an excellent letter in May's Journal asking pertinent questions regarding experienced UK trained GPs who have worked abroad in a ‘first world’ setting for a few years.1 Consequently having to remain unpaid in limbo and having to jump through hurdles of unproven value to be allowed the privilege of working in the NHS again. This was a succint argument with questions to COGPED and it was very noticeable that Purvis and Irish replied to a second more generalised letter on first name terms and ignored his salient points.2
Having worked for a short time in Canada I am well aware of the high standards of GPs there, many of whom have a much wider range of clinical skills than we offer in the UK. The system of revalidation is certainly as useful as here without the layers of computerised bureaucracy.
Cynically one could ask if it is a deliberate policy to discourage doctors working abroad for longer than a year or two.
In the light of the more pragmatic approach in Wales and Scotland would it not be possible to develop a clear national consensus before we lose a cohort of talent to the old Commonwealth?
- © British Journal of General Practice 2012
