BMA: Immigration changes will affect student policy

The government could fail in its stated aim of ensuring international medical students who are educated in the UK can benefit from the maximum number of training opportunities, it has been claimed.

According British Medical Association (BMA) Council Chairman Dr Hamish Meldrum, changes recently made to the immigration system could stop such students from extending their studies beyond the Foundation Programme for postgraduates.

'Restricting their career options to such an extent represents a huge waste of taxpayers' money and may lead to affected doctors leaving the UK permanently,' he commented.

The BMA also claims that pressure on medical staffing will increase as a result of the full implementation of the European Working Time Directive in August.

It said the government has recognised that previous changes to the way the immigration system operates is one of the factors that have led to workforce rotas in the National Health Service being understaffed.

The BMA is a voluntary association representing doctors in all branches of the profession.