Ukrainian medics face delays as they attempt to work in UK, says support group
Some Ukrainian surgeons and oncologists are working in warehouses and as taxi drivers because they are unable to work in the NHS after arriving as refugees, it has been claimed.
Marianna Vaszilyiv of United Ukraine, which provides access to employment services for Ukrainian refugees, said that many “highly qualified doctors, nurses, and midwives” from Ukraine have arrived in the UK since Russia launched its attack on Ukraine in 2022.
“They obtained their medical qualifications in Ukraine and are fully trained and ready to work,’’ she said. "On our list alone, there are more than 1,500 qualified professionals who could start contributing to the NHS at any time. "However, to practise as doctors in the UK, they must first pass an English-language proficiency test – either OET or IELTS. After that, they need to sit PLAB 1 and PLAB 2, which assess their professional knowledge and skills. Only once these steps are completed can they start working as doctors. “At the moment, many of them can only get jobs as unqualified staff elsewhere, because of licensing and qualification validation issues. I know a paediatric surgeon who performed complex surgeries on babies in Ukraine but is now working in a warehouse.
"I know an oncologist of the highest category who is currently working as a taxi driver. There are many similar stories.” “The NHS urgently needs staff, and we already have the people – but the system keeps them stuck in a closed circle,’’ she added.
Ms Vaszilyiv added: "We had meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Health, hospitals, and others in 2022, but unfortunately the bureaucratic requirements are still too complicated to navigate, meaning hundreds of qualified doctors, nurses, and midwives remain unable to work in their professions." Russia’s invasion forced many Ukrainians to leave the country. Around 5.2 million refugees from Ukraine are recorded globally including 255,000 in the UK.
A spokesperson for the GMC (General Medical Council), the regulatory body for doctors who work in the UK, said: "Doctors with refugee status can apply for registration, and we will do everything possible to process their applications as quickly as possible.
"This includes priority places for our skills and knowledge tests, as well as financial support with fees and application costs.”
Any doctor who wishes to practise in the UK must be registered and licensed by the GMC. The GMC spokesman stressed that refugee doctors have priority access to the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test. They can sit the earliest available PLAB 1 and can usually book their PLAB 2 within a month. The GMC offers refugee doctors two free attempts at the PLAB 1 exam and subsidised places at PLAB 2. It also offers free verification of their primary medical qualification.
An NHS spokesperson said: "Doctors who have trained abroad play a vital role in the NHS, and it’s right that all staff are required to have the appropriate professional registration before treating patients."