CCG wins £750k award to support international GP recruitment

NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has secured £755,000 to support the international recruitment of 25 GPs to west, north and east Cumbria.

This was part of a pilot project which is now being replicated nationally to attract up to 2000 new GPs into the NHS.

The CCG was awarded funding from NHS England through the General Practice Forward View (GPFV) with North Cumbria one of only three areas in the country to successfully partake in the initiative.

It is thought that the GP placements will be for 6-12 months taking place over the next two years.

A recruitment agency has been appointed to help source GPs and guide them through the ‘Induction and Refresher Scheme’ which all overseas GPs must undertake before they can work independently in the UK.

A project team and steering group made up of practices managers, GP training scheme leads, Cumbria Health on Call, the CCG, the LMC (Local Medical Committee) and NHS England has been established to support the GPs and training practices when GPs arrive in Cumbria.

A number of further initiatives are also being developed as part of the programme to help the GPs and their families with social integration, exploring career opportunities and support the GPs to stay in the county long term.

In addition to receiving an induction and training for the entrance exams, preparation weekends also provide GPs with the opportunity to meet practice staff and representatives for the local health economy.

Caroline Rea, director of primary care for NHS North Cumbria CCG, said: “It was fantastic to receive this funding for the county and this initiative is a really positive step to tackle the challenges around GP recruitment. GPs who live and work here know it is a great place to work and this scheme will introduce these international GPs to our part of the world and the excellent work/life balance the county has to offer.

“There are a number of opportunities to train and develop professionally in the county with various links between our GPs and Cumbria’s hospitals. We can really help create roles within General Practice that can match ambition.

“There are few places as diverse as Cumbria, you can travel from an urban centre to the rurality of the fells and then to the seaside within an hour.”