Alan Milburn: Patients must come first

The last few years have seen more staff coming into the NHS, but there are still staff shortages. This is particularly the case with doctors in certain key specialities. That is why, in recent months, we have embarked on a major drive to recruit trained staff from abroad.

Today I can report on the progress. Since the global recruitment campaign began, we have identified around 500 doctors who are suitable for employment in the NHS. To date around 100 have been matched with NHS trusts who are interested in employing them.

In addition, Sir Magdi Yacoub is heading our efforts to bring highly qualified doctors to this country through a specially devised NHS International Fellowship Scheme. Doctors who come to this country will work in the NHS on fellowships for up to two years. We are initially concentrating on recruiting them to four key shortage specialities – cardiothoracic surgery, histopathology, radiology and psychiatry.

Last week, I also met with private healthcare providers from France, Germany and Sweden who are interested in bringing into this country their own clinical teams in order to further expand elective services for NHS patients.

Some, from within both the NHS and existing private-sector providers, have expressed concern about this plan. Similarly, some have pointed to concerns and even resistance to our proposal to recruit overseas doctors into NHS hospitals. I find this surprising. Everyone knows the NHS needs more doctors. It is doctors, above all others in this country, who have quite reasonably argued that case. Of course standards – including language skills – have to be right. But what we cannot have – and what I will not accept – is anyone having a right of veto on NHS patients getting the extra doctors they need.

There can be no question whatsoever of restrictive practices, wherever they are found, standing in the way of an expansion in services for NHS patients. I will be looking to NHS employers always to put the needs of NHS patients ahead of any other consideration.