NHS turns to Remedium to build ethical doctor recruitment following attacks over ‘stealing’ staff from overseas countries

The NHS has announced a multi-million pound deal with medical recruitment giant Remedium Partners in a bid to establish ethical and sustainable partnerships with overseas health services as new figures show doctor shortages in the UK have reached crisis levels.

The Department of Health announcement comes as doctors’ union the BMA and health workers’ union Unison, in an unprecedented move, issued a joint statement attacking the Government’s failure to enforce rules on recruitment of overseas medical staff from countries that receive aid funding from the British government.

Remedium Partners, the largest provider of overseas doctors to the NHS, has already established a number of joint initiatives with health service providers across Africa and Asia. Clinicians come to the UK on a fixed contract of with a commitment to return home on completion of their contract.

Under the Remedium scheme, while working for the NHS, overseas clinicians have the opportunity to enhance their clinical and managerial qualifications.

Richard Murray, chief executive of think tank the King’s Fund, said: “The workforce shortages in the NHS mean it does need international recruitment but it needs to be done ethically, and Remedium has been a leader in establishing sustainable methods of bringing medical staff to the UK. They are able to enhance their clinical and managerial qualifications during fixed-term contracts; they then return home better equipped to contribute to their country’s health provision.’

Remedium director and co-founder Philip Braham said: ‘We’re delighted that we’ve been chosen to support the NHS in taking forward its work in establishing ethical and sustainable relationships with overseas health service providers. Our programmes have attracted exceptional clinicians who have gone on to take major leadership roles in their home health services.’