Well at least its easier for SA docs to come to the UK (even with PLAB) than for us to work and register in SA. Ive found it impossible. Even with two job offers, one from Ken Boffard, the other from a doc who actually sits on the HPC board (Cleeve Robertson), its impossible to jump through all the hoops. They did relent and say if i sat the SA med school finals then i could work for free!!

We've given up and so the girlfriend (SA national) is moving here. So SA has lost two docs effectively.

The GMC appear not to have publicised this change. I only found out about it from a South African doctor and then had it confirmed via an HR(medical staffing) contact with the GMC. It certainly isn't anywhere in plain English on the GMC site.......... together with the implications!

Perhaps I'll start learning Polish (they vote to join the EU on June 8th/9th).

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Jonathan Marrow

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 8:04 PM

Subject: Re: GMC Registration

THanks very much for pointing this out. I have just been talking to someone in the JCHST about the same issue. One part (DoH) seems to be pressing for us to recruit more docs from overseas while another (GMC) seems set to make life more difficult for them.

I went to the GMC website and I must say I did not find myself much wiser. Did you find it helpful?

Thanks for your message

Hope you are not working the weekend...I am!!

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">Ray McGlone

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 6:35 PM

Subject: GMC Registration

I thought you should be aware of this. This means effectively that all doctors qualifying outside the EU or Switzerland will need to sit the PLAB in future.

This will severely reduce the number of doctors from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa from coming to the UK for short periods to work.

Ray McGlone

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">GMC Registration Services

To: [log in to unmask] href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">'Ray McGlone'

Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2003 4:08 PM

Subject: RE: GMC registration for South African doctors

Dear Mr McGlone

Thank you for your email.

On 17 December 2002, primary medical qualifications under Section 19 of the Medical Act 1983, formerly recognised by the GMC for provisional and full registration, will only be accepted for limited registration with effect from 1 January 2004. There is a one year transitional period, and if a doctor wishes to apply for provisional or full registration he/she must do so before 1 January 2004. If they obtain provisional registration before this date, they will then be eligible to move to full registration as there is no time limit for doctors wanting to move from provisional to full registration.

Doctors who qualify on or after 31 October 2003 do not benefit from the transitional arrangements.

Please visit the GMC's website at: www.gmc-uk.org for information about the scope of limited registration and information about the changes. The website is frequently updated and you should visit the site at regular intervals.

Yours sincerely

Hilary Dunne

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