HCL Permanent tackles chronic doctor shortage

LONDON - June 20, 2013 - PRLog -- As the doctor shortage continues, HCL has successfully started to recruit Middle East doctors to work in the UK, with four doctors shortlisted and one doctor already placed in acute trusts across the UK.

HCL Permanent Managing Director, Stephen Hockey says the recent overseas recruitment drive, which attracted high numbers of doctors in emergency medicine and other acute specialties, is in direct response to the market as demand reaches crisis point.

“The current shortage of A&E doctors is well documented; we are responding to our clients’ need for volume, permanent A&E doctors.” Mr Hockey said.

A wave of retiring GPs, a lack of young doctors combined with rising patient numbers, tightening immigration laws, the European Working Time Directive and an increased feminisation of the workforce are contributing factors hitting staff rotas.

“We have had three successive years of only 50% fill rates for senior emergency medicine trainees and as a consequence, EDs have a significant shortfall in senior trainees and consultants which adversely affects service delivery, standards of care and patient safety. Retention of doctors in the specialty is also proving difficult due to the pressures on the service,” he said.

Doctors attending the event followed a rigorous selection process to be selected for interview, with doctors needing to be GMC qualified, have their IELTS or be in the process of getting both.

“We understand the issues our clients are facing and are responding accordingly. Based on the success of this recruitment drive we are holding other events to source doctors in India as well as the Middle East in the coming months. This drive in Abu Dhabi proves we are looking for solutions and can work in partnership with large trusts to deliver volume placements.”

HCL Permanent has an established history of placing doctors from the EU, Middle East, India and Pakistan into the UK.  

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For any further information, contact HCL Communications and PR Manager Laura Ackland on +44 (0) 207 451 1448.

About HCL plc

HCL plc, headquartered in London, was formed in 2003 and is a leading provider of staffing solutions in the health and social care sectors. HCL supplies over 2,000 temporary and permanent doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, qualified social workers and administration & clerical staff to public and private sectors every week. We are an international company with offices in the UK and Australia and recruitment drives in Europe. For more information please visit our website at http://www.hcldoctors.com/, view our facebook page or follow us on twitter @HCLplc.