Overseas GP recruitment: a methodology for comparing international GP training and healthcare contextual data with the UK

Problem

The UK has a GP shortage. Substantial overseas recruitment targets have been set. Doctors from European Economic Area (EEA) countries can join the UK’s GP Register under European law. Non-EEA doctors must obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for General Practice Registration (CEGPR), demonstrating equivalence to UK-trained doctors. CEGPR can be time-consuming and burdensome. To meet overseas recruitment targets, it is important to determine the most efficient route into UK general practice whilst maintaining registration standards and patient safety.

Approach

We developed a methodology to map GP training and healthcare contextual data from an overseas country to the UK. Four stages were undertaken using desk-based research and stakeholder interviews: i) developing a data collection template, ii) conducting a case study (Australia), iii) refining the data collection template, and iv) creating a mapping framework. The case study used the 2016 curricula for both UK and Australia.

Findings

Five ‘domains’ were included in the data collection template: Healthcare Context, Training Pathway, Curriculum, Assessment, and CPD/Revalidation. The final data collection template comprised 50 mapping questions across the five domains. The methodology included application of a red/amber/green rating to indicate similarity of data across the five domains. Australia was rated ‘green’ for Training Pathway, Curriculum and Assessment, and ‘amber’ for Healthcare Context and CPD/Revalidation; Australia’s overall rating was ‘green’.

Consequences

We developed a robust, systematic methodology for mapping GP training between different countries and the UK which will support the international GP recruitment agenda and help to sustain and grow the UK’s GP workforce.