NHS Induction Programme

For overseas medical graduates coming to the NHS

Building a skilled workforce for the future... the only one-stop-shop for overseas trained NHS doctors

An award-winning and market-leading programme, to safely introduce overseas-trained doctors to the NHS and UK healthcare system. 

Have you ever questioned your readiness to work as a junior doctor in the NHS? You’re not alone! We found that more than 80% of overseas-trained doctors felt their overseas medical training did not prepare them for a career in the NHS. LinkMedics will help you prepare for the NHS transition and safely land you into your first job!

Overseas-trained doctors are a vital asset to the NHS and will continue to play a pivotal role as the NHS resets and recovers from the pandemic. LinkMedics provide high-quality, meaningful and accessible clinical training and employment opportunities to overseas doctors who want to start their careers in the NHS.

Our NHS Induction Programme is a specially designed “conversion course” created by overseas doctors who have successfully integrated into the NHS system. We provide:

  • Comprehensive “hands-on” clinical skills training.
  • Medical emergency simulation training.
  • Case-based teaching.
  • Communication skills sessions.

Our programme gives you all the skills, knowledge and confidence to work as a junior doctor in the NHS. Our programme is developed in partnership with NHS Trusts and UK Medical Universities, following a standardised curriculum.

What's included?

A virtually delivered session introducing you to the NHS as a whole and its culture. Delivered by our Group Director of Medical Education & NHS Consultant.

Healthcare systems around the world are innately unique, and the NHS is no different. Having completed your medical training outside of the UK, it is important that you understand how the NHS functions and the regulations that govern who can (and how they) practice medicine in the UK. Our “Welcome to NHS clinical practice” module of our Get “NHS Ready” Programme covers important aspects of UK clinical practice which are often overlooked in the “standard” Trust induction, giving you an in-depth insight into navigating your way through a heavily regulated system.

This module covers essential topics such as your professional responsibility, the NHS culture and demystifying the GMC. We highlight important areas of clinical practice relating to your liability (and medical indemnity), your duty of care, ethics, complaint handling and social media use as a doctor. The session also covers your NHS road map and the importance of a professional portfolio, quality (and self) improvement, teaching and appraisals.

Important information which is often missed or hard to find – this module covers it all, jargon-free.

An in-person delivered module that sets a standardised level of clinical skills. Delivered by our Group Director of Medical Education and our in-house team of NHS Senior Clinical Teaching Fellows. In partnership with Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals and Liverpool University Teaching Hospitals.

Medical education worldwide is vastly different and nearly impossible to standardise to a set level universally. Therefore clinical practice in the UK and NHS would differ from how medicine is practised (and how procedures are performed) overseas. The General Medical Council also regulates clinical practice in the NHS, and the UK Foundation Programme sets out the competencies criteria that all UK-trained doctors should fulfil. These guidelines include all the foundation-level clinical skills and procedures that junior doctors (focusing on FY1 to ST1) should be able to perform independently. Unfortunately, overseas medical training cannot accommodate or keep up with the specific requirements of UK clinical practice, and we may find that overseas doctors need to improve in competencies.

During our NHS Induction Programme, doctors are given an intense induction to all the foundation clinical competencies expected of them in the NHS at the level expected of their grade. This one-day module allows overseas doctors to refine all their foundation-level clinical skills the way UK doctors undergo their training. This hands-on training session takes place in the UK at our training facility in Norwich in partnership with our NHS Trust and medical university training partners. The session covers practical competencies such as (but not limited to) cannulation, venepuncture, nasogastric tube placement, catheterisation and cardiac arrest simulation sessions.

This module aims to bring everybody up to the same baseline of clinical skills, knowledge and experience before they start their NHS career.

Our NHS Induction Programme covers several modules on NHS ward skills and managing medical emergencies. Over 4-weeks, our tutors cover all the medical emergencies you should be able to operate independently as a junior doctor in the NHS. This includes fundamental ward skills and keeping patients safe at all times (as the doctor, you are responsible for your patients)! These fully immersive and interactive teaching sessions are consultant-led and conducted virtually, allowing you to learn from your comfort and take place in the evenings.

There are over 25 modules covering everything from a patient with a suspected GI bleed or STEMI, to a nurse asking you to prescribe fluids, or adjust the insulin regime for a patient under your care, or interpret a blood gas and manage accordingly. The sessions also cover all the most common conditions you are likely to encounter in a hospital setting, including arrhythmias, exacerbations of COPD, DKA or CAP – all with set algorithms, investigations and management plans for you to follow.

Our NHS Induction Programme covers several modules on NHS ward skills and managing medical emergencies. Over 4-weeks, our tutors cover all the medical emergencies you should be able to operate independently as a junior doctor in the NHS. This includes fundamental ward skills and keeping patients safe at all times (as the doctor, you are responsible for your patients)! These fully immersive and interactive teaching sessions are consultant-led and conducted virtually, allowing you to learn from your comfort and take place in the evenings.

There are over 25 modules covering everything from a patient with a suspected GI bleed or STEMI, to a nurse asking you to prescribe fluids, or adjust the insulin regime for a patient under your care, or interpret a blood gas and manage accordingly. The sessions also cover all the most common conditions you are likely to encounter in a hospital setting, including arrhythmias, exacerbations of COPD, DKA or CAP – all with set algorithms, investigations and management plans for you to follow.

Monthly networking, clinical training, teaching, pastoral care, mentoring and career development! You won’t find support like this anywhere else!

All our doctors are allocated an NHS consultant mentor and peer mentor for a whole 12 months!

That’s amazing people in place to support and guide you on every step of your NHS journey! As well as individual mentoring sessions, you are placed into “collectives” where you can share learning and benefit from pastoral care sessions with your two mentors. These sessions are completely safe, supported and confidential (and kept confidential from your employer/NHS Trust). Previous cohorts have found these mentoring sessions to be an invaluable and great way for everyone to be vulnerable and learn from each other’s mistakes. #VulnerabilityIsStength!

For 12 months, you will have access to a dedicated NHS consultant and peer mentor (who has been through the journey themselves), networking opportunities, personalised study and development plans, and career opportunities (both inside and out of medicine)!

All doctors who want to be employed with a LinkMedics Programme Partner NHS Trust, MUST have participated in the NHS Induction Programme. After completing the induction programme, you will be eligible to apply for supported employment opportunities through LinkMedics. All employment opportunities come with a paid clinical attachment period before starting fix-term contracts as junior doctors. Please see employment opportunities page for more information.

Eligibility & Fees

Our eligibility is put into place to protect you, your patients and our programme partners. To participate in our NHS Induction Programme you must either:

  • have completed your medical training at a European university
  • you must have the Right To Enter the UK for the provisions of our in-person teaching sessions.
  • be able to attend all in-person and virtual teaching sessions 

The NHS Induction Programme costs a fixed fee of £595. This fee is refunded in full to all of those who are successfully placed for employment at a LinkMedics Programme Partner NHS Trust. Please see employment opportunities for more information.

To participate in our Get “NHS Ready” Programme, you must have completed your medical training and express a desire to work in the NHS. A GMC registration is not necessary for this programme (unlike our NHS Induction Programme). You must be able to attend one of the in-person clinical skills sessions in the UK.

** Note – If we cancel for any reason, or if you find employment through LinkMedics, we will refund this fee in full for all doctors. This fee is otherwise non-refundable, as we use it to save your place.

Book your place onto the next cohort

Autumn 2023 – Cohort 1

  • 1st September 2023
    Introduction to clinical practice in the NHS
  • 2nd September 2023
    Practical Clinical Skills Training Day
  • 3rd September 2023
    Medical Emergencies Simulation Day
  • 9th September 2023 –
    Medical emergencies & ward skills interactive session (Virtual)

Autumn 2023 – Cohort 2

  • 6th October 2023
    Introduction to clinical practice in the NHS
  • 7th October 2023
    Practical Clinical Skills Training Day
  • 8th October 2023
    Medical Emergencies Simulation Day
  • 14th October 2023 –
    Medical emergencies & ward skills interactive session (Virtual)

Autumn 2023 – Cohort 3

  • 3rd November 2023
    Introduction to clinical practice in the NHS
  • 4th November 2023
    Practical Clinical Skills Training Day
  • 5th November 2023
    Medical Emergencies Simulation Day
  • 11th November 2023 –
    Medical emergencies & ward skills interactive session (Virtual)
 

**all dates are subject to change.

To secure your place, please use one of the booking links.

 

Frequently asked questions

We are a team of healthcare professionals passionate about supporting the NHS transition of our overseas trained colleagues. We created LinkMedics to support others in a similar situation, and as we have been through the same journey, we provide support on a personal level from our shared experiences.

The NHS induction programme provides a safe and supported route to NHS employment as a junior doctor. The programme consists of a hands-on clinical and hospital induction, followed by a supported period of NHS employment for up to 2-years. 

During our induction block, you visit our clinical skills facility to refine foundation level clinical skills, before being placed into a hospital to gain essential ward experience, practice your clinical skills, shadow on-calls and attend teaching. You are then formally employed by our partner NHS Trusts to work as a junior doctor in the UK at both Foundation Year 1 (FY1) and Foundation Year 2 (FY2) levels.

The intention is to provide a baseline of clinical skills, knowledge and experience before supported doctors with their FY2 competencies.

Our NHS Induction Programme is currently open to overseas trained doctors who wish to work as doctors in the NHS. Our Get “NHS Ready” Programme is open to all other overseas trained doctors.

Yes, you will be paid at the current national Trust grade equivalent rate for your period of employment. You are employed directly by the NHS (not LinkMedics) and your employing Trust will act as your designated body.

You must provide evidence that you have completed your final medical school examsand you must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC).

To ensure we protect our programme partners and any patients you will interact with, you must pass our admissions process. Our NHS Induction Programme is currently only open to British overseas trained doctors and to those who do NOT require a VISA to work in the UK. For more details, please see our eligibility criteria.

At this moment in time, we are unable to support applicants who require a UK work VISA.

Our Get “NHS Ready” Programme is open to all other overseas trained doctors and medical students who want to find their feet in the UK.

Our NHS Induction Programme and Get “NHS Ready” Programme are both aimed at overseas graduates who do not have the same NHS experience or opportunities to progress to training posts in the UK.

We have pre-medical and medical student programmes aimed at those all over the world!