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The NHS International Fellowship Scheme

Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff CF14 7XB

The NHS International Fellowship Scheme (Khan, 2004) is discriminatory against UK trainees and non-consultant career grade (NCCG) psychiatrists. Those who choose to come to the UK and train for membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists should feel aggrieved.

Some of the members of our College have valuable NCCG experience. Unfortunately, European legislation does not permit any NCCG experience to be counted towards the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST). In contrast many from overseas can get on the specialist register without any UK experience.

Reportedly, these NHS international fellows are experienced psychiatrists with overseas qualifications. Goldberg (2004) mentions strict selection criteria but what evidence do we have of accreditation of training from countries where NHS international fellows are recruited? Does their training reflect the standards and strict time limits set for post membership training in the UK? This accreditation seems to be a flexible paper exercise. Also, we must not forget that psychiatric higher training is not about management of mental illnesses alone.

Our Royal College should not forget NCCGs, who have filled a gap in NHS psychiatry. The Postgraduate Medical Education Training Board is likely to bring a change. Our college should pre-empt this and show leadership by forward thinking and acknowledge NCCG experience of their members towards CCST.

Overseas doctors should be welcomed. However, they should undergo a period of specialist registrar training in the UK commensurate with their experience. Following this training they should be appointed as consultants in open competition against home grown trainees.

References

GOLDBERG, D. (2004) The NHS International Fellowship Scheme in Psychiatry. Psychiatric Bulletin, 28, 433 -434.[Free Full Text]

KHAN, M. M. (2004) The NHS International Fellowship Scheme in Psychiatry: robbing the poor to pay the rich? Psychiatric Bulletin, 28, 435 -437.[Free Full Text]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tahir, T. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Tahir, T. A.