JUNIOR doctors and all physician posts should be added to a list of occupations in short supply to ensure that vacancies can be filled after Brexit, doctors warn today.
Leaders of the medical Royal Colleges in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London called on the UK Government to make special provision to increase the number of foreign doctors who can work in the UK in a bid to avoid an increase in vacancies after the UK exits the EU in March.
Read more: Third of EU doctors thinking about leaving UK due to Brexit
They were responding to a consultation by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on what occupations and job titles should be included in their Shortage Occupation List (SOL).
The list consists of all roles deemed by government to be in short supply within the UK resident labour market.
As a result, these occupations have a more relaxed immigration criteria which means employers are not required to show that they have tried to recruit from within the UK before they hire someone from abroad.
The list was first drawn up in 2008 and currently includes a number of medical professions, including psychiatrists and obstetricians.
However, doctors' leaders want SOL to apply to all physicians posts "for a defined period of time" after Brexit in order to provide a period of stability for the NHS during a potentially turbulent time for international and EU recruitment into the NHS".
Read more: Warning no-deal Brexit risks 'substantial financial implications' for NHS in Scotland
They added that that Acute Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine physician posts should be added to the shortage list "in their own right based on the significant evidence that these specialties are in national shortage".
The Colleges also called on the migration committee to consider making a recommendation that junior doctors in the first two years of foundation training after graduation from medical should should be added to the SOL.
There has been widespread concern among NHS leaders over the potential impact of Brexit on the health service, both in terms of rising vacancies if EU workers return home and shortages of vital drugs.
President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Professor Derek Bell said: “Between 2007 and 2017 the number of consultants across the UK increased by over 70%, from 9,092 to 15,727.
Read more: German-born psychiatrist working in Scotland reveals 'laughable' citizenship fight
But 10 years ago, 80% of advertised consultant posts across the country which were successfully filled; by 2017 that had dropped to 55%.
“We’ve come together with the other Royal Colleges to make the positive case for allowing doctors to come and work in the UK, as we believe that this is vital if we’re to address the workforce challenges within the NHS that our membership faces each day.”
Professor Jackie Taylor, the President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow added: “It’s vital that we take action to address the long-term workforce challenges in the NHS.
"Only by acting now can we ensure that we can provide the best possible treatment to our patients, and ensure that the welfare and well-being of our members is protected.”
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