Consultant Doctor Demand Increases

According to the study:

• The number of Consultant Level Doctors overall increased by 4.5% in 2008
• Consultant Doctors in Acute and General Medicine increased by 23.3%
• Consultant Doctors in Stroke Medicine almost doubled from 27 to 50
• A few specialities saw a fall in numbers:
  • Geriatric Medicine fell by 1.6%
  • Dermatology fell by 0.2%
  • Allergy Specialists fell by 7.7%

With the number of resident Consultant Doctors in the UK already stretched to the limit the ever increasing demand is set to be met by Consultant Level Doctors from outside the European Economic Area (EEA). On the 14th December 2009 the UK Border Agency (UKBA) expanded the Skill Shortage Occupation List to include a greater number of Consultant Level & Non Consultant Level Specialities, following research from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

Current Skill Shortage Occupation List:

• Consultant Level Skill Shortages:
  • Audiological Medicine
  • Genito – Urinary Medicine
  • Haematology
  • Medical Microbiology & Virology
  • Neurology
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  • Occupational Medicine
  • Paediatric Surgery
  • Forensic Psychiatry
  • General Psychiatry
  • Learning Disabilities Psychiatry
  • Old Age Psychiatry
  • Radiology (in Scotland only)
• ST4 Level Skill Shortages:
  • Trainees in Paediatrics
• Non Consultant, Non Training Level Skill Shortages:
  • Anaesthetics
  • Paediatrics & General Medicine Specialities delivering acute care services:
  • Intensive Care Medicine
  • General Internal Medicine (Acute)
  • Emergency Medicine
  • General Surgery
  • Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  • Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgery

Doctors in Acute & General Medicine have been included by the UK Border Agency in the ‘Non Consultant, Non Training Level Skill Shortages’ category therefore Tier 2 Licensed Organisations can ‘sponsor’ workers on Tier 2 General Visas (formerly UK Work Permits) without the need to conduct a Resident Labour Market Search.

If you are a Doctor from outside the EEA who is practising at a medical grade above Foundation Year 2 (FY2) we would like to hear from you. Commonwealth Contractors partners with Tier 2 Licensed Consultancies and Associated Trusts prepared to sponsor Doctors on Tier 2 visas where required. If you work in a role considered to be in shortage our partners will almost certainly be able to offer employment. If you work in a role not considered to be in shortage you still stand a very good chance of securing employment. Although our partners are required to conduct a Resident Labour Market search in practise very few resident candidates are unearthed due to significant shortages across the board.

To find out more send a copy of your CV to Commonwealth Contractors or call 0330 390 9021.