Congress report - European Health Forum Gastein

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European Health Forum Gastein 2001
Selected findings.
The survey.
The main reason for labour mobility reported by doctors who responded to the survey is
related to labour market conditions in EEA doctors’ home country. Medical unemployment or
lack of specialist training posts were most frequently sited as the reason for leaving the host
country and coming to the UK. A higher standard of training in the UK was also a commonly
sited reason.
When asked how easy or difficult it was to obtain permission from UK authorities to train or
practice in the UK, an overwhelming majority of respondents, (89% in total), found it was
very easy or easy. A smaller number, jut over half, found it easy or very easy to obtain an
actual training position once here (total 51%). A very small number of EEA doctors who
responded to the survey found obtaining permission to train in the UK to be a difficult
process. However, the number of those respondents who found it difficult or very difficult to
obtain an actual training position was much larger. Of those doctors who expressed difficulty
in obtaining a training position, 37% were Greek, 18% German, 18% from the Netherlands
and 9% each from Ireland, Poland and Spain.
When asked whether satisfied with their current training programme the majority of answers
were favourable. However, 9 % stated that they were dissatisfied and 20 % were neither
satisfied or dissatisfied.
In relation to the issue of whether patients accepted them as they would accept a UK doctor,
the overwhelming majority (90%) of respondents felt that they were accepted on an equal
basis. Only 8% felt that they were not accepted by patients as UK doctors would be. Asking
a similar question with regard to whether they felt UK doctors accepted them as they would
accept other UK doctors, the number who responded “no” was much higher than above
(18/79 or 23 per cent). The number of respondents who did feel accepted as a UK doctor
would be accepted was 59/79 (75 per cent).
EEA doctors were asked about their career intentions and; whether, or not, they intended to
remain in the UK. These findings are of particular interest. Only a quarter of those who
responded intend to remain long term in the UK with over a half intending to leave in the
short and medium term. The data highlight the considerable amount of uncertainty among
EEA doctors who responded to the survey. 16 per cent of SHOs and 17 percent of SpRs are
currently undecided as to whether or not to remain in the UK. Furthermore, the majority of
SHOs stated that they intend to remain only in the medium and short term (32 per cent and
26 per cent respectively) rather than in the longer term (21 per cent). Those who intend to
leave in the short term will do so, for example, “after obtaining MRCP qualification.”
More SpRs than SHOs stated that they intend to remain here in the long term and qualified
this statement with, for example, “until retirement” and “indefinitely”. Twenty three per
cent of SpRs also indicated that they intend to stay only in the short term: and, on
completion of specialist training they intend to leave the UK. It is possible to assess the
intentions of EEA doctors to stay in the UK by country of qualification. It is interesting to
note that overall, Greek doctors, in particular intend to remain for short periods in the UK
(1/12), with an even number of German doctors intending to stay for short and long periods.
Only 2 of 12 Irish SpRs anticipate long term stay.
The interviews.
We present the selected findings of both the doctors’ and Clinical Tutors’ interviews
together:
International Forum Gastein, Tauernplatz 1, A-5630 Bad Hofgastein
Tel.: +43 (6432) 7110-70, Fax: Ext. 71, e-mail: info@ehfg.org, website: www.ehfg.org