The Gateway Access Programme has been designed to support International Medical Graduates in the UK who are also refugees or in similar circumstances. Unfortunately, the Access programme does not cater for individuals who are not in the UK. Please see our article What is the Doctors Direct Gateway Plus programme? for information relating to International Medical Graduates outside of the UK and the support we provide.
While we don't guarantee a placement, as we work with many Trusts in Scotland, Wales and England, if you are flexible in where you are willing to work this can increase your chances of getting a placement. We will send you opportunities by email and you can express your interest by replying with your CV. Your CV should include any relevant courses and relevant clinical attachments.
You will need to provide:
- A valid passport,
- Your visa, BRP or evidence you have applied for a visa extension,
- A local police check from your home country,
- A full GMC licence, registered to practice, and
- A primary qualification recognised by the GMC
You will also need a UK bank account before we can process your application.
Once we have confirmed your eligibility, you will be interviewed by the Gateway team to assess that you can work as FY2 as a starting point. Our interviews are conducted over Microsoft Teams.
You will also be interviewed by any Trust or Client Service that you express an interest in. You will be interviewed by the organisation, and if you accept an offer of employment, a Visa will be issued by the organisation that employs you. They will provide you with a Certificate of Sponsorship so that you can apply for a Tier 2 Skilled Worker Visa. Joining the programme does not change your current Visa status.
After your initial assessment interview, you will need to complete your compliance tasks. These include:
- A DBS check - we can help you with which documents you can provide for this,
- An Occupational Health Check, and
- References checks
You will also need to complete mandatory training before starting. This will consist of online training and an NHSP induction. This is in line with NHS guidelines and Trust standards.
The Gateway programme is usually completed over 24 months. During this period, you should be aiming to complete your Certificate of Readiness to Enter Specialty Training (CREST) sign off. This will allow you to enter into specialist training should you decide to take this route.
To register your interest in the programme, please email GatewayDoctors@nhsprofessionals.nhs.uk
