Dear Colleague

OVERSEAS DOCTORS - FUNDING FOR TRAINING IN
GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTICE: AMENDMENT TO THE
STATEMENT OF FEES AND ALLOWANCES: SFA 38.1

Summary

1. The purpose of this Circular is to provide information on the availability of funding through the Trainee Practitioner Scheme (GP Registrar Scheme) in respect of overseas doctors. For the purposes of this Circular an overseas doctor is one who is not an EEA national or other person with EEA rights (who will be treated in the same way as UK nationals) and it does not matter where they obtained their primary qualification..

2. From 15 April 1997, GPs will be eligible to claim reimbursement under the Trainee Practitioner Scheme (GP Registrar Scheme) in respect of an overseas national who has the right to work in the United Kingdom for a period greater than 12 months beginning with the date on which GP vocational training starts and who by virtue of their immigration status is not required to hold a work permit issued under the Training and Work Experience Scheme. This may include, in particular, the spouse of an overseas national who is working in the UK with eg a work permit or permit free status but there will be other categories. GPs should note also that overseas doctors cannot undertake training in general practice with the immigration status "permit free" which applies only to training in the Hospital and Community Health Services.

Action

3. A formal amendment to the SFA will be issued in due course. In the meantime, a determination is given for the purposes of Regulation 35(1) of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 that the SFA shall be amended in the terms set out in the Appendix.

20 May 1997

Addressees

Tel: 0131-244 2465
Fax: 0131-244 2326

Our ref: MS/5/41

____________________________

Yours sincerely

AGNES ROBSON
Director of Primary Care

AMENDMENT TO THE STATEMENT OF FEES AND ALLOWANCES
OVERSEAS DOCTORS - FUNDING FOR TRAINING IN GENERAL MEDICAL
PRACTICE

The Secretary of State, pursuant to Regulation 35(1) of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 hereby determines that paragraph 38.1 of the Statement of Fees and Allowances shall be amended, as set out in the attached Appendix, to take effect from 15 April 1997.

ANNEX

CONDITIONS FOR PAYMENTS UNDER THE TRAINEE PRACTITIONER SCHEME (GP REGISTRAR SCHEME)

38.1 Any practitioner who is on the Medical List of a Board whose application to act as a trainer has been approved by the General Practice Sub-Committee of the appropriate Regional Committee for Postgraduate Medical Education will be entitled to payments under the Trainee Practitioner Scheme (GP Registrar Scheme) during the period of training at the rates set out in paragraph 1, schedule 1, subject to the conditions at sub-paragraphs (a) to (k) below. Practitioners should note that it is in the interests of both trainers and trainees that Boards should be informed without delay on each occasion that a trainee is appointed.

Practitioners should also note that although no payments will be made under the Trainee Practitioner Scheme (GP Registrar Scheme) in respect of a GP Trainee who holds a work permit from the Department for Education and Employment issued under the Training and Work Experience Scheme, an overseas national who has the right to work in the United Kingdom for a period greater than 12 months beginning with the date on which GP vocational training starts, is eligible for funding, including in particular, a spouse of an overseas national who by virtue of that status is permitted to work here without a work permit. (References here to overseas nationals and their spouses are to people other than EEA nationals or people with EEA rights, who will be treated in the same way as UK nationals.)