Refugee doctors could boost NHS staff levels

Hundreds of refugee doctors are not using their skills in the NHS because they do not understand how the qualifying system works, or they struggle to fund their studies, it emerged today.

The British Medical Association said 955 refugee and asylum-seeking doctors are registered on its database, but only 57 say they are practising in the UK.

Many who have been granted refugee status have yet to pass the exams they need to practise here.

To mark National Refugee Week, the BMA wants to highlight the contribution made by those refugee doctors working, or trying to work, in the NHS.

Dr Edwin Borman, chairman of the BMA's International Committee, said: "Their skills are badly needed. It costs ?250,000 to train a British medical student as a doctor, but as little as ?10,000 to prepare a refugee doctor to practise."