Refugee doctor training programme launches in Belfast

A newly formed academy is to train eleven refugee and asylum seeker in Belfast, so they can work in the NHS.

The English Language Support Academy for Medics will work with the gynaecologists, surgeons, paediatricians, emergency medical doctors and GPs in 2025.

The Belfast programme is supported by REACHE, a 21-year-old medical education programme funded by NHS England that in 2024 has helped 123 health professionals, mainly doctors and nurses on their journey to regain their professional registrations in England.

Based at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, and led by Dr Aisha Awan, a clinical lecturer from The University of Manchester, it is the largest education centre of its kind in Europe.

Dr Awan said: “REACHE offers an excellent return on investment. Its nearly six times cheaper and takes half the time of training medical students in the UK.

“The fall of the Assad regime in Syria brings the plight of refugees and asylum seekers sharply into focus.

“But rather than wasting the experience of these skilled medical professionals when we need doctors and nurses desperately, REACHE supports them to be part of the solution to our national challenges.”

She added: “Refugee doctors have an average of seven years post-registration experience under their belt.

“With specialist language and acculturation training alongside strong pastoral support, they are well able  to fill the estimated shortfall of around 50,000 doctors in the NHS.”

According to REACHE, the recruitment of refugees and asylum-seeking doctors and nurses prevents them from becoming deskilled through inactivity in their host country.

That way they can then return to their nations after conflicts end and provide health services to traumatised citizens and rebuild their country.

• Image 1 : the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray welcomes a refugee group of doctors at the opening of the programme. From L to R they are  Dr Ghaleb Daher,  Lord Mayor, Dr Yasmeen Ahmed and Dr Mohameden Omer 
• Image 2: From Left to right they are: Jennifer Taggart, NHS service manager; Councillor Micky Murray; Aisha Awan; Dr Kathy Cullen, interim Centre Director, Queen’s University