NHS medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis has confirmed that the recently introduced Medical Support Worker programme is set to be expanded, with £19 million of additional funding announced to recruit a further 500 individuals in 2022/23.

Speaking at NHS ConfedExpo, Powis announced that the position, which sees those with medical training from overseas fast-tracked into the health service and supported to become registered NHS doctors while working under supervision, had already seen more than 120 individuals start in new careers as NHS doctors.

It is estimated that there are approximately 2000 international medics in the UK who are not GMC registered. The Medical Support Worker role is a path to support those with several years of clinical experience into a medical career in the NHS. Around 470 individuals were employed as medical support workers last year.

Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, said:

“There must be a proper process for ensuring doctors coming from overseas have the right qualifications – and that can take some time. The MSW scheme gives refugee doctors valuable experience of working in the NHS during that period and also utilises their expertise for the benefit of the NHS.

“This is a win all round as the individual studies show. We are really pleased to support the scheme and for it to continue and flourish.”

Sofiia Abdelani, clinical fellow at Royal London hospital and former medical support worker, said:

“When I moved to England in 2018, I was looking for an opportunity to put my previous clinical skills from my time as an anaesthetist into practice.

“Getting a GMC registration to allow you to practice as a doctor can be a lengthy and expensive process but the MSW role supports you as you become familiar with NHS systems, gets you the necessary experience and helps you fund your path to becoming a fully qualified doctor here. I can’t recommend it enough”.