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Become a Doctors Gateway Partner

Displace high-cost locum doctors and create your substantive workforce of the future with international talent by becoming a Doctors Gateway Partner.

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Tailored programmes to employ, engage and educate international and UK doctors at your Trust

Doctors Gateway is part of Doctors Direct and NHS Professionals. We work in partnership with the NHS to deliver ethical international recruitment and long-term workforce solutions.

Doctors Gateway is a dedicated service that supports NHS Trusts in recruiting, educating and engaging both internationally trained doctors and those already based in the UK, across all grades and specialties.

Our two-year programmes are designed to promote sustainable medical recruitment in the NHS. They reduce reliance on high-cost locum doctors and help build a stable, long-term workforce.

Each doctor benefits from a comprehensive 360° support package, including clinical mentorship, CPD-accredited training sessions and structured appraisals.

This support is delivered by our team of experienced specialist clinicians, ensuring every doctor is fully prepared to integrate into NHS services. This allows your Trust to focus on delivering high-quality patient care.

Key benefits of the service

  • ✔Reduce locum spend: Lower costs and improve continuity by reducing reliance on high-cost locum doctors.
  • ✔Build your future workforce: Develop doctors over two years and move them into substantive roles upon completion.
  • ✔Attract global talent: Access a wide pool of skilled, internationally trained doctors ensuring ethical recruitment with robust clinical governance.
  • ✔Recruit at any level: Fill roles across all grades and specialties, including psychiatry, radiology, oncology, and more.
  • ✔Accurate clinical grading: Our Medical Advisory Group (MAG), made up of senior NHS consultants, ensures each doctor is accurately assessed and matched to suitable vacancies..
  • ✔Multiple programmes: Choose a programme that suits your needs with options that include employment, engagement and education.
  • ✔No cost to doctors: Fully funded programmes boost appeal and widen access for candidates.

Comprehensive support package

Our support includes:

  • Candidate identification, attraction, and CV quality assurance by UK-based senior NHS clinicians.
  • Interviews aligned with the intended role and expertise level.
  • 1-day NHS acclimatisation inductions for candidates.
  • Compliance with NHS Employers Check Standards for all candidates.
  • Collaborative onboarding process with a dedicated Gateway lead.
  • Professional appraisals conducted by our team, meeting GMC standards, and shared with your Responsible Officer.
  • Quarterly Partner Network meetings to share feedback and best practices.

Each programme is meticulously designed to address your unique needs, ensuring both immediate and long-term benefits for your organisation and patient care.

Choosing the right Doctors Gateway programme for your Trust

We offer four two-year programmes plus a six-month top-up option, and a modular sourcing-only service. In addition, we can provide a completely bespoke service and develop a programme that meets your workforce needs.

This two-year programme enables Trusts to progress doctors who are already employed (Specialty, Associate Specialist Locally Employed Doctors (SAS LEDs)) towards specialist registration and consultant status. Meaning that you can support your high-potential doctors to progress their career at your Trust.

This programme provides education, development, and guidance to support the submission of a doctor’s portfolio to the relevant Royal College. As part of this programme, they will benefit from:

  • Access to 250 hours of structured education and portfolio preparation support.
  • 100% online delivery, with weekly sessions every Wednesday afternoon, aligned to the doctor’s 1PA.
  • Expert facilitation by our Director of Medical Education and over 40 NHS specialist consultants from our Medical Advisory Group (MAG).
  • A personalised action plan and annual progress reviews, shared with your Trust.

This two-year programme enables Trusts to employ senior doctors (grade ST7 and above), who have trained outside of the UK and are looking to become a specialist or consultant in the NHS. This means that we actively recruit net-new talent and support them to develop their careers at your Trust.

As part of this programme, they will receive:

  • Structured support to submit their Portfolio Pathway (previously known as the Certificate of Eligibility of Specialist Registration or CESR).
  • High-quality, specialist training, in collaboration with the Royal Colleges.
  • Mentoring from a dedicated consultant.

This two-year programme enables Trusts to employ middle-grade doctors (grade ST4 – ST6), who have trained outside of the UK. This means that we actively recruit net-new talent and support them to develop their careers at your Trust.

As part of this programme, they will receive:

  • Access to accredited ‘training to be a teacher’ and teaching opportunities.
  • Guidance in creating their own Personal Development Plan (PDP).
  • Mentoring from a dedicated senior clinician.
  • Support with the next steps in their career.

This two-year programme enables Trusts to employ recent EU graduates (foundation grade) who are looking to work as junior doctors in the NHS. They may be from the UK originally or international candidates. This means that we actively recruit net-new talent and support them to start and develop their careers at your Trust.

As part of this programme, they will receive:

  • Access to accredited learning specifically developed to meet the needs of EU graduates.
  • Guidance in creating their own Personal Development Plan (PDP).
  • Mentoring from a dedicated senior clinician.
  • Support with the next steps in their career.

This six-to-twelve-month programme enables Trusts to employ doctors who have completed their CREST/FPCC and want to gain experience in their chosen specialty in the NHS (grade ST1 to ST3). This programme is also available for those who have completed our EU programme or have obtained CREST sign-off elsewhere. As part of this programme, they will receive:

  • Guidance and support for completing audits and quality improvement workstreams.
  • Guidance in creating their own Personal Development Plan (PDP).
  • Guidance in understanding the difference between ARCP and the self-directed appraisal process (for FPCC doctors).
  • Mentoring from a dedicated senior clinician.

This is a traditional recruitment option focused on sourcing doctors, trained outside the UK, to join your Trust. As part of this service, we offer a bespoke candidate sourcing-only package, enabling you to undertake the pastoral care and training. We offer telephone support to the candidate during their first weeks of employment to ensure a smooth transition.

Partner with us to build a sustainable NHS workforce

We are ready to support you with your employment, engagement and education needs.

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