Twenty-eight extra doctors to cope with coronavirus

News that his Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency is to get an additional 28 doctors to help cope with the COVID-19 crisis has been welcomed by MP Ian Blackford.

The SNP’s Westminster Leader described the announcement by the General Medical Council earlier this week as ‘great news’.

Mr Blackford said: ‘I would like to thank all those who have stepped forward to help support the UK government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Because of this emergency, the government activated Section 18A of the Medical Act (1983) and asked the General Medical Council (GMC) to give temporary registration to certain groups of appropriate people to supplement doctor numbers and provide cover in a range of roles.

‘This is an unprecedented crisis and I applaud these efforts to bring more doctors into the NHS.’

The GMC has granted temporary registration to almost 15,500 doctors including the 28 in Ross, Skye and Lochaber.

Of these, approximately 12,000 are GPs with a UK address who are registered but do not currently hold a licence to practise, while 6,800 are doctors with a UK address who gave up their registration between three and six years ago.

A GMC spokesman said: ‘We’ll contact individuals in the coming days to confirm they have been given temporary registration or had their licence returned and will tell them how to opt out if they want to.

‘We’ll also highlight advice from each of the four UK countries about the practicalities of returning to work. If they don’t opt out, we’ll pass their contact details to the health service in the country of their registered address.

‘Doctors who return to work must receive comprehensive induction, training and support. Routine pre-employment checks should also be carried out by their employer before they start to practise.’

The GMC also intends to write to 7,500 final year medical students from across the UK to invite them to apply for provisional registration. Emergency powers are not required for this.

The GMC will follow all usual policies and procedures to ensure students are fit to practise, but will process applications earlier than usual, meaning final year students who have graduated from their medical school will be able to work as interim Foundation Year 1 doctors before August, if they are asked and willing to do so.

‘I applaud these efforts to bring more doctors into the NHS.’