At a time when we’re woefully short of GPs, it beggars belief that new recruits are potentially being blocked from working by bureaucratic visa rules (NHS risks losing GPs to ‘nonsensical’ immigration rules, Priti Patel told, 18 May).
The BMA has consistently called for reforms to the currrent system, whereby international GPs who complete their training in the UK after three years are unable to get a visa and work in a GP practice unless it has registered as a licensed sponsor. Only after five years’ residence in the UK do graduates receive indefinite leave to remain, meaning a visa is unnecessary.
