RESOURCES FOR SYRIAN DOCTORS NEW TO THE UK

The SBMS EWG (Education Working Group) is co-led by Dr Aula Abbara and Dr Firas Aljanadi. Over the next twelve months, they will continue with the successful seminar series focused on providing information and support to Syrian doctors new to the UK system and hope to do the same for non-physicians e.g. dentists, nurses in the coming months. Please also see our seminar series for further information.

This live document (found here) contains links with information for new doctors.

Doctors (IMGs – International Medical Graduates and Refugees in the UK)

The GMC (General Medical Council) has useful resources for international medical graduates (IMGs) and refugee doctors (who are in the process of registration). Further information is available on the health careers in the NHS website and on the British Medical Associations website for the BMA Refugee Doctors Initiative.

SBMS has excellent links with the GMC, BMA, Building Bridges Program, the Lincoln Refugee Doctors Program and is available to support Syrian doctors in the UK through our network and connections. During 2021, members of SBMS board have supported several Syrian-refugee doctors into roles as Medical Support Workers while they complete their PLAB examinations and obtain GMC registration. 

Refugee healthcare workers may face different challenges compared to non-refugee healthcare workers in the UK. We provide links to further resources in the table below and are happy to be contacted to support you further. 

Disclaimer: We are not responsible for information provided in external sites.

Resources for Refugee health Professionals
Bridges Programmes The Building Bridges programme is an NHS funded partnership for all Refugee Health Professionals living in London and is made up of three organisations: RAGU, Glowing Results and the Refugee Council. RAGU specifically provides careers advice alongside guidance and employability skills development training for all Refugee Health Professionals.Provide similar services as REACHE and RAGU for doctors in Scotland

Refugee Council
RAGU (Refugee Assessment and Guidance Unit) The Building Bridges programme is an NHS funded partnership for all Refugee Health Professionals living in London and is made up of three organisations: RAGU, Glowing Results and the Refugee Council. RAGU specifically provides careers advice alongside guidance and employability skills development training for all Refugee Health Professionals.
REACHE Northwest They provide refugee, and asylum-seeking doctors and nurses who live in the North West with advice and guidance, CV feedback, preparation for the Occupational English Test, PLAB preparation, placements and support with adaptation to the NHS.
WARD (Wales Refugee and Asylum Seeker Doctors) Group Provide similar services as REACHE and RAGU for doctors in Wales.
The Lincolnshire Refugee Doctor Project aims to create the best possible scheme in Lincolnshire for supporting refugee doctors back into medical practice in the UK. The programme aims to help doctors refresh their skills, knowledge and confidence, to requalify to UK standards, and to secure employment appropriate to their professional qualifications. The programme will also help the doctors settle with their families in Lincolnshire and will be offering humanitarian support to refugee doctors and their families.
The Refugee Council The Refugee Council provides free advice and information to asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.
WARD (Wales Refugee and Asylum Seek NJ er Doctors) Group Provide similar services as REACHE and RAGU for doctors in Wales.
REPOD  Provides a structured programme of support to enable refugee and asylum seekers healthcare professionals and their families to be settled into local communities, enter clinical practice and maintain and develop their skills. The programme includes OET and IELTS classes delivered by qualified tutors and REPOD also provides reasonable financial assistance towards English and PLAB exams and other registration associated costs. The programme is run as a partnership between IPC (Investing in People and Culture), North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and Health Education North East (HENE). Funding has been provided through Health Education England North East. For further information or enquiries please contact Bini Araia at info@i-p-c.org
CARA – Council for At Risk Academics CARA Syria program
Scotland Deanery The NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Refugees Doctors Programme is designed to assist asylum seeking and refugee doctors living in Scotland to achieve registration with the General Medical Council via the PLAB examinations in order to be in a position to compete for posts in the NHS in the UK. Support leading to successful completion of IELTS, is also available to dentists and pharmacists.

RESOURCES FOR SYRIAN DENTISTS NEW TO THE UK

There are less established pathways for refugee dentists to enter the UK system. We will continue to update this section with relevant information. In the mean time, please see these resources:

Dentists of the world: This group provides support for refugee dentists to register with the General Dental Council. They work in collaboration with the Refugee Council and Barts School of Medicine and Dentistry. They have produced the videos below:

with further resources about important issues relating to Greeting a Patient, Building Rapport, Expressing Empathy and Infection Control found here.

Please this video from Dr Yazan Douedari, a Syrian dentist now working in the UK after completing his MPH at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene who gives advice on how to pass the Dental Oral Examination. He talks about:

  • Step by Step application process
  • How to get your GDC paperwork in order
  • How long to study for each part of the ORE
  • Revision tips
  • How much does the ORE UK process end up costing you?
  • How he failed Part 2
  • How he overcame Part 2!
  • How he found a job in Private Practice

 

and this about how to manage the stress of the ORE examination:

There are a list of relevant facebook groups available on Protrusive.co.uk

RESOURCES FOR SYRIAN PHARMACISTS NEW TO THE UK

There is information here for Overseas qualified pharmacists who would like to register to work in the UK.

This FACTSHEET ‘Registering as a pharmacist in Great Britain: internationally-qualified pharmacists’ provides further relevant information.

We will update this section with further information.