International: Overseas doctors of the NHS: migration, transition, challenges and towards resolution

Overseas doctors are playing an important role in the successful running of the NHS. They represent one-third of the total number of UK doctors and include doctors from the European Economic Area and international medical graduates. The main aim of this review is to explore the challenges that overseas doctors might face when they take up their first job in the UK. We conducted literature search using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were designed to include published literature concerning overseas doctors in the UK and the NHS. Lack of information about the UK health system; language and communication challenges; clinical, educational and work-culture challenges; and discrimination challenges are some of the difficulties that overseas doctors might experience. Understanding these challenges and providing support are important steps in helping overseas doctors to make a smooth transition.