There are moves to strengthen the international dimension of the work of the Scottish Rural Medicine Collaborative (SRMC) in the recruitment of GPs.
It was agreed recently to invite a key member of NHS Scotland’s International Recruitment Service (IRS) to join the collaborative’s board.
The move follows the submission of a paper on the subject to the board by the IRS’s international recruitment manager, Mathew Pay, which highlights a proposal that the service and the SRMC collaborate in assisting overseas doctors with their GMC registration and immigration administration. The issue is seen by the collaborative as a potential pinch point in the recruitment of GPs from overseas.
The paper submitted by Mr Pay shows that as part of a new national approach to recruitment in NHS Scotland, a different way of conducting international recruitment is being piloted. The aim is to try to fill posts in certain medical specialties where there are particular shortages through national campaigns rather than the current board-by-board approach.
Formed following an NHS Scotland-wide international recruitment campaign in 2018, the IRS helps to co-ordinate and facilitate multi-board, targeted recruitment campaigns aimed specifically at candidates from outside the European Economic Area. It provides specialist advice on matters such as pensions, taxation and Scottish culture in general, and provides preferred candidates with personalised support and relocation assistance.
As its profile continues to rise, the IRS is gaining a presence worldwide and now handles nearly 300 speculative enquiries every month. The SRMC is just one of the information points to which candidates can be directed.
In his paper, Mr Pay shows that the Scottish Government’s Primary Care Workforce division is particularly keen to work with and use the services of the IRS, as indeed is the SRMC, not least given the fact that one of the most common issues asked about by prospective recruits from overseas is becoming a GP in Scotland.
Martine Scott, programme manager of the SRMC, said: “Having Mathew on our board will boost what is already a key element of our work: helping to facilitate the smooth recruitment of GPs from overseas.
“At present, the process of international recruitment across our health boards is uneven and disjointed and anything that can be done to make it more efficient and effective has to be welcomed. Mathew’s knowledge and expertise in this important field will be much appreciated.”