Judy Jones

Asylum seekers in UK receive poor health care

Refugees and asylum seekers often receive poor health care in the United Kingdom despite their entitlement to free NHS treatment, according to the Audit Commission. Some general practitioners have closed their lists to asylum seekers because of the “overwhelming need and insurmountable language difficulties” they fear will impact on their practices, the commission says in a report this week. A few willing GP surgeries bear an unfair share of the work as a result, even though ringfenced …

African sleeping sickness returns to UK after four years.

Applications to US medical colleges have fallen by a fifth in four years, as the internet and other new industries bring new career opportunities to young and upwardly mobile people. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, which represents the 125 accredited medical schools, a total of 37137 students competed for 16 303 places this year. This is a 3.6% decline in the number of applications last year and is 21% lower than the record 46 968 students who applied to US medical schools in 1996. Applicants from underrepresented minority groups this year totalled 4267 (1.9% more than in 1999). Of these, 2571 were women, an increase of 0.5% over 1999. The Association of American Medical Colleges classifies underrepresented minorities as black, native American, Mexican American/Chicano, and mainland Puerto Rican. “In spite of the ever expanding list of career options available to young people today, especially in the burgeoning internet economy, medical schools continue to attract large numbers of gifted individuals who are interested in becoming doctors,” said the association’s president, Dr Jordan Cohen. The association thinks that several factors may be contributing to the decline in applicants— for example, the relatively strong economy and the increasing variety of exciting and intellectually challenging professional opportunities outside the traditional career choices. Fred Charatan Florida

Breast surgeon reprimanded by GMC

A surgeon who removed a womans healthy breast without having confirmed a cancer diagnosis has been reprimanded by the General Medical Council. William Thomson, aged 52, of Cambuslang, …

Britain's first "virtual hospital" gets go ahead

A prototype “virtual hospital” that will monitor patients in their own homes from control centres around the country is being developed in Britain with a £10m (

Influenza drug to undergo “fast track” assessment by NICE

16m) Treasury grant for public service modernisation. The project will be led by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and will target hospital …

Working in Australia: The number of potential pitfalls for overseas doctors seeking employment in Australia is increasing. Steve Kisely and Judy Jones update the scene

The influenza drug zanamivir (Relenza) will undergo “fast track” appraisal by the new National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), which will recommend which treatments should be available on the NHS in England and Wales. Zanamivir is said to moderate the symptoms of flu and shorten bouts of the illness. Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, the institutes chairman, said last week that he hopes to publish recommendations on the use of the drug this autumn. Thereafter, the …

Former Treasury adviser weighs in against PFI

![][1] Recent publicity in the Australian press would suggest that there is a severe shortage of doctors, especially in states such as Western Australia.(1) The Australian Medical Association has highlighted how consequent overwork was leading doctors to misuse prescription drugs and alcohol. In the case of general practice the 47 doctors who trained in Western Australia in 1997 were not sufficient for the 62 vacancies that occurred in the state last year.(1) There are also shortages of radiation oncologists, dermatologists, and general surgeons across Australia. In response, the Australian Medical Workforce Advisory Committee (AMWAC) has recommended increasing the numbers of training positions for all three specialties.(2) At first sight, this would suggest that there are tempting opportunities in Australia for doctors wishing to enjoy a sunny climate and experience the practice of medicine overseas. In this article we set out a number of pitfalls to be avoided when considering coming to Australia. In addition, we highlight how regulations have been tightened and include details on general practice not covered by our previous article.(3) The perceived shortage of doctors is, in fact, very localised and largely restricted to areas of work where Australian doctors would not consider practising. Those coming to Australia therefore face a variety of registration and immigration rules designed to ensure that overseas doctors work in places or specialties the local doctors do not want to work in. If you are coming to take up a permanent position make sure that you are sponsored by your prospective employer for permanent residence. People on a temporary work permit can be ejected from the country as soon … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif