Get NHS Ready Programme for overseas doctors

Get "NHS Ready" Programme

For ALL non-UK trained medical graduates

The Get “NHS Ready” Programme by LinkMedics is a specially designed 12-month mentoring programme for overseas trained doctors who want to pursue a career in the NHS.

Our introductory programme allows overseas doctors to ensure they have the necessary skill set to work in the NHS at both an FY1 and FY2 level. The programme has been designed in partnership with NHS Trusts and UK Medical Universities with a standardised and supported curriculum. The programme includes a hands-on clinical skills training day in the UK, covering all fundamental foundation-level clinical skills, followed by 4-weeks of interactive virtual learning on every acute condition and emergency you would be expected to manage at a junior level.

The programme concludes with 12 months of ongoing pastoral care, support and networking opportunities through a membership community. The idea is that no matter which route you take back into the NHS, our programme will help your “Get NHS Ready”!

This programme runs alongside our already-established NHS Induction Programme, is consultant-led and is delivered to you in partnership with Norfolk & Norwich University Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. A certificate of clinical competency is provided to all participants to support job applications.

Introduction to the NHS

Healthcare systems around the world are innately unique, and the NHS is no different. Having completed your medical training outside of the UK, it is important that you understand how the NHS functions and the regulations that govern who can (and how they) practice medicine in the UK. Our “Welcome to NHS clinical practice” module of our Get “NHS Ready” Programme covers important aspects of UK clinical practice which are often overlooked in the “standard” Trust induction, giving you an in-depth insight into navigating your way through a heavily regulated system.

This module covers essential topics such as your professional responsibility, the NHS culture and demystifying the GMC. We highlight important areas of clinical practice relating to your liability (and medical indemnity), your duty of care, ethics, complaint handling and social media use as a doctor. The session also covers your NHS road map and the importance of a professional portfolio, quality (and self) improvement, teaching and appraisals.

Important information which is often missed or hard to find – this module covers it all, jargon-free.

Clinical Skills Training (in-person)

Medical education worldwide is vastly different and nearly impossible to standardise to a set level universally. Therefore clinical practice in the UK and NHS would differ from how medicine is practised (and how procedures are performed) overseas. The General Medical Council also regulates clinical practice in the NHS, and the UK Foundation Programme sets out the competencies criteria that all UK-trained doctors should fulfil. These guidelines include all the foundation-level clinical skills and procedures that junior doctors (focusing on FY1 to ST1) should be able to perform independently. Unfortunately, overseas medical training cannot accommodate or keep up with the specific requirements of UK clinical practice, and we may find that overseas doctors need to improve in competencies.

During our Get “NHS Ready” Programme, doctors are given an intense induction to all foundation clinical competencies expected of them in the NHS at the level expected of their grade. This one-day module allows overseas doctors to refine all their foundation-level clinical skills the way UK doctors undergo their training. This hands-on training session takes place in the UK at our training facility in Norwich in partnership with our NHS Trust and medical university training partners. The session covers practical competencies such as (but not limited to) cannulation, venepuncture, nasogastric tube placement, catheterisation and cardiac arrest simulation sessions.

This module aims to bring everybody up to the same baseline of clinical skills, knowledge and experience before they start their NHS career.

Managing Medical Emergencies

Our Get “NHS Ready” Programme covers several modules on NHS ward skills and managing medical emergencies. Over 4-weeks, our tutors cover all the medical emergencies you should be able to operate independently as a junior doctor in the NHS. This includes fundamental ward skills and keeping patients safe at all times (as the doctor, you are responsible for your patients)! These fully immersive and interactive teaching sessions are consultant-led and conducted virtually, allowing you to learn from your comfort and take place in the evenings.

There are over 25 modules covering everything from a patient with a suspected GI bleed or STEMI, to a nurse asking you to prescribe fluids, or adjust the insulin regime for a patient under your care, or interpret a blood gas and manage accordingly. The sessions also cover all the most common conditions you are likely to encounter in a hospital setting, including arrhythmias, exacerbations of COPD, DKA or CAP – all with set algorithms, investigations and management plans for you to follow.

12-months Community Membership

If you thought our Get “NHS Ready” Programme wasn’t unique enough… all our doctors are allocated an NHS consultant mentor and peer mentor for a whole 12 months! That’s amazing people in place to support and guide you on every step of your NHS journey! As well as individual mentoring sessions, you are placed into “collectives” where you can share learning and benefit from pastoral care sessions with your two mentors. These sessions are completely safe, supported and confidential (and kept confidential from your employer/NHS Trust). Previous cohorts have found these mentoring sessions to be an invaluable and great way for everyone to be vulnerable and learn from each other’s mistakes. #VulnerabilityIsStength!

For 12 months, you will have access to a dedicated NHS consultant and peer mentor (who has been through the journey themselves), networking opportunities, personalised study and development plans, and career opportunities (both inside and out of medicine)!

Eligibility & Fees

To participate in our Get “NHS Ready” Programme, you must have completed your medical training and express a desire to work in the NHS. A GMC registration is not necessary for this programme (unlike our NHS Induction Programme). You must be able to attend one of the in-person clinical skills session in the UK.

The cost to participate in this programme is £495**.

As an group of overseas doctors that pride themselves on being able to provide training that is accessible to all, we can guarantee that you will not find another organisation that provides the same level and quality of accredited consultant-led clinical training and pastoral support for 12-months at an accessible price (do your research)!

** Note – If we cancel for any reason, or if you secure a place on our NHS Induction Programme in the future, we will refund this fee in full for all doctors. This fee is otherwise non-refundable, as we use it to save your place.

“The clinical skills teaching was the best day ever. I was asked to put a catheter in on my first week of work and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the programme"