Write to UKAID at 146 Enderby Road Whetstone Leicester LE8 6JJ
Executive Committee
President:Dr Jayaprakash A Gosalakkal Secretry Dr Rajaneesh Walia
"As a society we tend to highlight and attempt to correct the verbal and/or
physical use of racial discrimination.
But there are other more subtle forms of
discriminatory behaviour that are almost impossible to detect and/or label as
racial
discrimination. Such behaviour will extend from simply not being
acknowledged to being excluded from certain jobs simply
by reason of one's
nationality. This book reflects on the instances when it is difficult to judge
or criticise others'
negative behaviour towards us as racially motivated. It
looks particularly at the experiences of the non-EU nationals working
and living
in the UK on a Post-Study visa."
This is from a book by Rosalyn Chia and I think it reflects the reality
for many
who work in the NHS.
We often find that even the most accomplished doctor with a darker pigmentation
is
overlooked in favour of not only white British doctors but also those from
south Afrika,Australia etc.Various reasons are
given including "That was not
what we were looking for" "Wont quite fit in" "Lack of communication skills"
etc.But underlying
all that is the bitter truth that the glass ceiling remains
as strong as ever even in areas with a large number of ethnic
minority doctors
Jayaprakash A Gosalakkal
The Indian Diaspora seems to be a target in Australia.
There have been various
theories regarding this. One is the high visibility of Indians now in
professions and the increasing
prosperity both in India and Indians settled
abroad.
The entry that BNP has made in areas with high Asian concentration
like
Coalville in Leicester and Burnley is also a worrying phenomenon. We should not
forget that Hitler came to power
through the ballot box
Just like the Israeli government does the Indian government may have to take a
greater interest
in the welfare of people of their origin if the host countries
fail to protect their interest
I have often felt even
in the NHS also when we are discriminated against and
your local trust and the DH take no interest who do you appeal to?
Jayaprakash
A Gosalakkal
A Latina Supreme court judge in the USA
Sonia
Sotomayor has made clear that she is proud of her identity, and she offers that pride not as an affront but as an example
-- not white, not male, not Anglo, not inclined to apologize. She is the new face of America, and she has a dazzling smile."
This is a quote from today’s Washington
post. I was just comparing this with all the so called mentoring and other programs in the NHS to make us have the "Proper
board room behaviour" before we can be entrusted with the keys to the budget and departments. The NHS is way behind the USA currently in its approach to racial minorities. The only
ones Trust boards and medical directors would consider for such jobs are "Those who keep quiet and behave like them”.
Therefore we see the spectacle of disastrous medical leadership being praised for their "Loyality".This is similar to the
brown sahib phenomenon of being more loyal to the queen even when their own countrymen were being imprisoned.
What the NHS now needs is a new breed of leadership. A kind of post racial Obamafication
where an immigrant from a small village near Calicut has the same right as some one from Pretoria to dream of reaching the pinnacle!
There is some loose talk of
further Ghettoisation of IMG by some power hungry
EMD/IMG leaders and we request people not to fall for these sham proposals.
I
will be the first one to opt out of such a concept
1) What we should work for is further integration to the extend
that we do not
need separate organizations for EMD/IMG an Obama model not a Sharpton model
2) If the choice is between
say Meldrum and Mehta I would have any day voted for
meldrum
3) There is no chance of such organizations achieving negotiating
rights. This
has been a major problem for HCSA, remedy etc
4) We should try to build up a non denominational effective
trade union.
5) Such unions purely based on trace may actually be against the law
So we think it is a terrible idea!
Jayaprakash
A gosalakkal
In science we think of
melanin as a natural substance with protective functions
for those living in hot climates and which probably has a role
in many skin
cancers. In politics and in history however this pigmentory composition has led
to some of the greatest
social evils e.g. Slavery in the United states and
Apartheid in South Africa. In its purest form the blond haired, blue
eyed model
of Nazi Germany it played an even pivotal rule for justifying the atrocities
Melanin continues to be the
bane sometimes of those who possess it in
excess.Obamas election if he was of pale colour would not have attracted much
comment.
A Harvard educated lawyer from Illinois is elected president-Tell us
another one
I think probably in future the pigmented
people would find it easier to become
the president of USA than a trust board member in some of our NHS Hospitals. We
have
singularly failed to increase our presence in decision making bodies in
some areas including in some areas with high density
of pigment like East
midlands. What is it about this pigment which makes ordinarily decent people
feel so threatened?
On the larger question of IMG representation our experience with the BMA has not been very promising.
1) The BMA has generally taken a position against medical migration and since we are all at the
end of the day beneficiaries of such migration .Hence there is an inherent conflict of interest
2) I agree that we wear several hats and am not for further ghettoisation of our professional activities
3) The BMA International group is represented by people like Dr Borman who is not really an expert
on sub continental doctor’s issues
4) I would certainly not want people like Dr Mehta to represent me at the BMA as our philosophies
are different
5)I do not believe that we need any extra mentoring or communication classes to succeed or that
the way to succeed is having a rolodex full of DH mandarins names and conducting glittering ceremonies addressed by people like Donaldson and Black. This was BAPIO; S
MO till people like us came on the scene
6) I agree the DH looks on these trainees as cannon fodder to a system which is coming apart at
the seams.
7) Most Post doctoral fellows in sub speciality training however have gained and gone back (at
least in our case) to have flourishing careers back home
I agree with MA that the IMG comes in all shapes and sizes but one think we all have to say is
"Stories of discrimination" and failure to be represented at the top table or find people with integrity to represent our
views!
P-S The reason we are talking about the past is because History repeats first time as tragedy and the
second time as Farce”. To me Mehta again saying he is being misquoted is something of a farce. Why did he not object
when his he was first quoted? I think we ask Donaldson, Black, Johnson and others for accountability. Strangely we are silent
when it comes to our own!
Jayaprakash A Gosalakkal
On the issue of IMG and ethnic
minority doctors our otherwise voluble
local brethren are tone deaf. So I would say we need to fight our own
battles.
In my opinion the current collaborators (IMG leaders)with the
DH remind me of Geoffrey Howe's memorable phrase on Thatcher
"It is
like the captain who sends you into bat with a broken bat" (or words to
the Effect).By holding "Mentoring classes"
and "communication skills"
classes they have already spread the myth that the IMG is somehow
second class. This postulation
has several supporters here. We reject
it completely and say the only thing holding us up is the current
recruitment
practises which pay lip service to equality and diversity.
We need more effective leadership and I would not look into
senior our
junior leaders of the current medical establishment to provide that
leadership. It has to come from within
ourselves. The day we do not
need such groups would be the day we would have truly arrived in the NHS
The more I see this issues there seem to bemore problems. Let us start with the whole spin. The DH suddenly
discovers that the IMG were a valuable resource. I guess this came about after two years or navel grazing. More likely it
was a sugar coating to the bitter medicine they were going to administerin the form of the new two year training program..
When we wrote to the Immigration sub committee pointing out the huge gaps in the middle grade level jobs we were told "The
UK does not need IMG ".I am reminded of Ms Hewitt’s first response to the MMC crisis-No UK graduate is going to be unemployed
under the new system in spite of the presence of the IMG.Within a few months she, Warner and others changed their tune and
presto-The 2006 mass "Deportations”. Now they are trying to attract some of these deportees under a new "Avatar”.
There actually is no need for two tier training even within immigration constraints. You have the US J1 visa example .You
could have either home country requirement after training with a waiver process for shortage specialities or a no guarantee
for consultant position after training. This gives flexibility to the system.Eg If there is a consultant shortage there would
be the possibility of outside recruitment of fully trained doctors. I think the two year programme can only work as a structured
training program for post doctor fellows. If on the other hand these are pure service jobs let us say so. This would be similar
to recruiting Indian doctors to the Middle East etc on fixed contracts. I am amused by the IMG leaders who are providing cover
to these DH summersaults? Is it penance for taking them to the courts? As for the BMA it has made its views on medical migration
crystal clear not withstanding all the non EU membership in their midst
I am becoming increasingly appalled by the
near dictatorial powers
given to clinical directors and others to carry out personal vendettas
and kangaroo investigations.Honest
doctors raising issues of clinical governance
are appalled that sometimes after a "Thorough investigation" the accuser
is
acussedof various perfidities they had not even dreamt of! I think the "whistle
blower" law is observed more in its
breech!.I hope these powers given to these
managers to run amock is controlled by the DH
This has been the end result
of the so called reforms. We have a
saying in India that we have no recourse if the "fence eats the crops".
In any case
we are keeping a watchful eye
There is a general feeling in the establishment that minority doctors
can be intimidated
by such tactis.It is understandable that people
don't want to risk their career and name to fight on the basis of
principle.
Wither justice and fair play in the NHS? With Warwick
consultant case, the Internet Scot junior case, the London radiologist
case
etc.It is becoming more and more a cesspool
Jayaprakash A gosalakkal
I do not know why some sections of society want
to retain the right to
use terms considered derogatory by others whether it is behind closed
doors or in public. After
the TV show controversy, there were the
royals using such terms of endearment and now we have the former prime
ministers
daughter using such terms with reference to a black tennis
player
Anybody who resists is accused of being "P-C gone
mad". It is
interesting that none of the minorities are arguing for the usage of
offensive terms against the majority
I
think the reasons are much deeper. It appears to be a desire to re-
establish terms of racial inferiority use in colonial
times.
Jayaprakash A Gosalakkal
Prince Harry used
a four letter word which he says is a form of endearment to his” friend” from south Asia.
His father prince Charles has another “Four letter name” for his “friend” who plays polo with him.
Both friends say they are not bothered and like in previous cases are sure “This was not meant in a racist” manner.
Some think it is “Political correctness gone mad”. I wonder when there are so many endearing names to choose from
why did the next in line and the third in line choose these particular forms of endearment? Some of us who were here in the
eighties remember shaven skin head shouting out such “endearments” from passing cars. We did not like it then
and we do not like it now. So if any of our local friends are planning to call us this endearingly please desist or ask us
if we mind. Cameron was right on the ball with his denouncement. Brown a little more nuanced. I think the politicians actually
got it this time and hope the royals do too
Jayaprakash A Gosalakkal
There appears to be real change in the USA.An Indian-American second
generation Neurosurgeon has been appointed as surgeon general. Would such a change come about in the NHS some day? Can we
think of an ethnic minority doctor replacing Sir Liam or Dame Black as influential leaders? Would there be an EMD in
Mr Nicholson’s place some day or even as a CEO/MD/ CD in an ethnic minority dominant city like Leicester.
Till that happens we will reserve our judgment on equal opportunities and the meritocracracy in the NHS
Happy 2009 to all
We are hoping
that the New Year will see a change in culture in the NHS.We have been able over the years to argue for a true merit
based system.Our major road blocks are sometimes other EMD organizations.They like the BAPIO have been saying that the EMD
require mentoring and special classes to take their rightful places in the NHS.We reject such thinking as backward.We are
ready.All we need is justice and fairplay in the NHS.On merit there is nothing stopping us from taking a leadership role in
the NHS.Like the last Palin supporters some are putting up a last minute fight.We think the right side will win this battle.
Jayaprakash
A Gosalakkal
I am glad that the GMC now
agrees with our position that you are much
more likely to face disciplinary action if you are an ethnic minority
especially
if you are an IMG.They have found
1) Trusts are much more likely to refer an IMG
2) Local colleagues are more likely
to refer an IMG
3) Patients also are more likely to refer an EMD/IMG
This is our every day experience. Clearly in places
where the number
of EMD/IMG is increasing there is also a fear and a desire to keep
the "uppity blacks" like us in their
place. Unfortunaetly sometimes
the leaders in this are the white medical managers who belong to the
OBN and can always
find sundry nurses, colleagues etc to write
incident form and instigate patient complaints. The whole system is
getting
discredited and the medical managers often act as handmaidens
for such discrimination. Some say we should be thankful for
being
allowed to work here. That sound like the "mugabe argument". Dont
forget we have and still are plugging an important
skills gap in this
country. I am glad to find the GMC is finally paying some attention
to this scandal of the white
establishment trying to soften and
discharge "The uppity blacks"
Best wishes
Jayaprakash A Gosalakkal
Disband BAPIO
This may sound preposterous but I am serious. I think the whole BAPIO
approach
to ethnic minority and International medical graduates have
been one of ghettoisation. It was essentially telling people
that
they need more mentoring more "Classes" to reach the level of the
local doctors. They carried out and still do
such classes on
communication skills etc that plays into the stereotype of the EMD
created by the NHS
A number of
our Associate specialists and others have been led into
this belief by this organization. This was the brain child of
Mehtaji.I
have heard it from himself. My view is completely
different. In my experience many are already much better than the
locals
and the only reason they are not doing well is selection bias,
which is subtle. I have been told in meeting after meeting
that the
outcome of diversity policies is not being monitored only the
process. We all know the process can be manipulated.
I
also hope people would stop shamelessly milking the unfortunate
doctor who ended his life while under the pastoral care
of Mehtaji.In
my analysis the great legal victory after spending tons of money has
saved the jobs of a few HSMP holders.
Even that I am not sure as I am
getting letters from many such who tell me that they re being still
overlooked in interviews.
Our
infiltrator friends are busy trying to disband us.
Unfortunately for my ex colleagues we will continue .I think for a
future
for the EMD/IMG I say BAPIO is part of the problem not part of
the solution. I am talking about the oligarchs who have
succeeded in
destroying the cause and unity. We don't think with the lemming like
tendency we have seen over the years
and with spin master like
Budadev and Mehtaji we will prevail easily .But we have to try and
are in for the long haul
So
disband BAPIO and call a grand summit of all ethnic minority
doctors including those currently not in any organization
Jayaprakash
A Gosalakkal
There was a bit of relief for some categories
of Immigrant doctors from the House of lords decision.The blatantly unjust rules regrading HSMP doctors were reversed.However
we should not forget that the Immigration law changes which disrupted the career of thousands of IMG still stand.Many had
to return home without compensation and rebuilt their lives.So we give half a cheer.We are hoping that the diaspora can become
more united.We need a more vigorous style of leadership.We need more participation if our cause is not to wither away.Our
challenges are many .The latest changes proposed makes any further migration next to impossible while many trusts are finding
it difficult to fill in their junior doctor places.The DH,s manpower planning lies in shambles.We are hearing calls to once
again recruit from Chennai and Mumbai for the hard pressed specialities.Would it be a case of once bitten twice shy?
Jayaprakash A Gosalakkal
There is a huge culture change
in fields like business and cricket where former colonies are now proudly buying up hoary establishments or defeating the
old colonial powers. Except for diehard racial supremacists most people welcome this second coming of age. Many people would
not know the story (Quoted in the Times news paper yesterday) that when the first British Thomas Moore came to Jehangir’s
court he had to wait as a supplicant. “The times” thinks that with Tatas acquisition of Jaguar history has come
a full circle. We have British Asians now sending their children to Indian schools in record numbers stating that it would
help their future
The only organization which seems Impervious to all these changes is the NHS.On paper they claim
they have an equality and diversity policy and monitoring. At least in the last ten years this has made no change in the number
of ethnic minority doctors in positions of Influence. We have an occasional headline grabber, an odd RCGP president etc. As
for the rest it is business as usual
This is our fundamental difference with Mehtaji and co. Their position is that
the EMD needs tutoring, mentoring etc (in line with DH thinking and such disasters like "Breakthrough programs”). Their
efforts seem to be to create a "Brown (Not the PM) aristocracy " with themselves at the helm. We say we are ready, give us
what is rightfully ours. Otherwise stop talking about equality and admit the reality that it is still a service almost exclusively
run by the majority community
Jayaprakash A Gosalakkal
There
appears to be some rethinking in those who arrange programs,
which call for special mentoring for EMD before they are accepted
into
the higher echelons. In our view such thinking itself is
discriminatory. Why should one group which has spend the
same amount of
time in the NHS require mentoring while the other e.g. those from South
Africa or Australia do not. In
my opinion it is those who are unable to
cross the Rubicon of true diversity who now populate many trust boards
etc
that need mentoring. They need their eyes opened to the possibility
that merit does not equate external appearance
Obama
is now dealing with this quandry. How do you convince the
majority community that if elected/selected you would represent
all.
Does that require him to completely forsake his roots? Can an EMD be
only selected for a high position after he
is sufficiently brain washed
I mean mentored to have "proper Board room behaviour"?
Does proper board room behaviour
mean building up your hospitals and
departments or demonstrating the external etiquettes which many
Immigrants cannot
copy with the same effect? I think it is time for a
rethink if everyone has to get the same opportunities
Jayaprakash
A Gosalakkal
Presidents weekly report
The sub continent has provided the
NHS with a continuous supply of
doctors who manned the ramparts, worked in jobs which the locals
would not do etc. The
Government and the DH thought they could just
close the valve to prevent the flood. I am sure they will realize
their
folly of such a drastic measure
1) There are wide spread signs of shortage at the middle grade level
in Pediatrics,
Locum positions etc
2) The service jobs are mainly done by Immigrant doctors.
3) There are indications that local doctors
would rather migrate,
leave medicine etc than work in a job not to their liking.
4) The Immigrants are usually here
because of a shortage in local
skilled manpower
5) Next time when this shortage becomes widespread the sub
continental
work force may not trust the DH enough t come here
6) Politics may yet ruin a substantial relationship developed over
the
years between the sub continental doctors and the NHS and hence
our opposition to the Immigration reforms proposed by the
DH and
supported by BAPIO (or at least loudly in the past by mehtaji)
We hope better sense will prevail
Jayaprakash
A gosalakkal
Leaked Department of Health documents have revealed a national
shortage
of locum hospital doctors, with some trusts reporting they
are "lucky if applicants attend for interview". HSJ first highlighted
the issue last year and as recently as 14 February the DH was
insisting there is no evidence of a widespread shortage.
We
also have reports from many regions including Wales of
recruitment difficulties for middle grade in specialities like
paediatrics. This is why we say the BMA/BAPIO/DOH axis is wrong in
planning to stop medical migration.
The court
case goes on. A few HSMP holders may benefit from the
outcome and we are happy for them but I think we have to start
thinking
long term and the court case is just a small cog in that
wheel except for providing Mehtaji with even more photo
opportunities.
Dont get us wrong we welcome any relief given to the
much harassed IMG but do not buy Mehtajis version of El dorado after
every event in which we win the battle but loose the war. The
recent example of even more draconian IMG rules after
the court
verdict comes to mind
Jayaprakash A Gosalakkal
I Was recently
reading the press release of Mehtaji on behalf of his organization claiming to speak for all of us?Based on what ?Does this
cabal really speak for you and me.It certainly does not
represent me.Mehtaji and co are now trying to curry favour with
Johnson
and co supporting the most discriminatory Immigration laws I
am aware of.Mehtaji thinks those who have not come here are
unlikely
to contribuite to his funds so he takes the easy way out by writing in support of the DH.As a wiseman once said
"If you have nothing clever to say hold your tounge".I am
astounded by the audacity of mehtaji and his organization to
come out
with a statment like this!!!
We are glad when
something happens which helps the Diaspora whether
it is a legal or moral victory. As we all know it is a great struggle
to
establish yourself in a foreign land and the least you can do is
not to mar anybodies chances. I oppose the current Johnson/BMA/BAPIO
view
on medical migration for several reasons.
1) I oppose protectionist tendencies, which are carried to such
extremes.
When even a society like India with its high unemployment
is recruiting foreign nationals for jobs which require high skills
like
International airline pilots, CEO,s of companies etc UK does not
consider medicine as such a field which would gain by
international
expertise
2) There has not been even an acknowledgment of the role government
bodies and the GMC etc
played in this manpower crisis. People
conveniently forgot why so many IMGs were here in the first place.
3) There are
very few laws, which are introduced in this manner
overnight. We have no doubt that if the majority of people affected
by
such laws were white South African or Australian doctors there
would have been more thinking. We think the IMG are being
treated
with such disdain because they mainly come from South Asian and
African countries.
4) We therefore oppose
the recent changes proposed in Immigration on
moral, ethical principles as well as the long-term effects it will
have
on the NHS because of its inability to appoint on merit
irrespective of the country of origin
5) We are not asking for
an open door policy. We are asking for
fairness, and appreciation of merit and feel this can still be
achieved without
causing unemployment amongst British graduates. We
feel most of the unemployment was caused by the reduction in training
jobs
caused by the MMC.
6) I have been told by several employers including recently a human
resources manager from Wales
that blanket bans of recruitment from
amongst IMG would lead to collapse of their services.
7) The Government in our
opinion is making a grave error of judgment
by this blanket ban and we plead with them to be flexible in their
approach
Jayaprakash
A Gosalakkal
All of
us have the tendency to mix fact with opinion. So when a trust board cannot find any ethnic minority doctor for appointment
to senior positions we should try to separate the facts from their opinion
Fact: In
spite of tall claims made by the DH, NHS and trust board ethnic minorities in positions of influence are in a woeful
minority i.e. still Barely 5 % of the work force while their numbers exceed 30-40% of the total workforce.
Fact: While
a white doctor trained in south Africa can easily assume charge as a clinical director without any mentoring or targeted assessment
it is much more difficult for a doctor from the Asian sub continent to do so except in hospitals where because they have no
choice the trust boards appoint such people
Opinion:
Ethnic minorities need special mentoring, courses etc before they can assume such positions. There is really no evidence to
suggest that an ethnic minority consultant/doctor when given such position without extra training compared to a white doctor
has preformed less well except in the imagination of the majority.
The discrimination
continues even in areas with huge ethnic minority populations and we would plead for the wholesale change in people like medical
directors and CEO, S who act as dinosaurs resistant to change. We have failed to change the mental makeup or opinion of such
people in many trusts .The only alternative is a wholesale change in personnel at medical director and CEO positions who understand
the true nature and diversity of the work force and respects it. I think it is time for change! We have a new PM and New heath
minister, Many new CEO,S but some in the medical hierarchy go on as permanent MD ,S and CD,S
Regards
Jayaprakash A Gosalakkal
Jayaprakash A Gosalakkal
JOIN US,HELP US TO HELP YOU
Jayaprakash
A Gosalakkal
We stand for a larger principle, the continuing lack
of recognition
for the EMD/IMG, the unfair rules, the discrimination in promotions and
awards. I think the recent
change in rules is a symptom not the
disease itself. The disease had taken hold long ago when the first
IMG arrived
on these shores. We know there are a very many fair-
minded people here with whom we would like to engage and hopefully
convince. Is there hope for unity ? yes not as a ramshackle
structure but as a unity based on sound principles.
We still feel for
this to happen there has to be a change in the leadership and ethos.
We request those who agree
with us to join us in large numbers.
Others may choose to follow other idols. We have no problem with
that. We invite
you all to take a closer look at us and discern in
the miasma of all that our opponents and some friends are saying
about
us- The kernel of truth -you may find that the reason we
started this group is because we care and we still do.
JOIN
UKAID
Aims of UKAID
1)Equality for IMG/EMD in promotions,awards,Recognitiona
NHS trusts and directorships
2)Fair deal for PPD and Junior doctors on visa and
training
3)To be judged on the inner qualities than the pigmentation
of the skin.
4)To be judged on what we know not who we know or
how we look
Amongst the many letters from
IMG leaders released by the department of Health
here is a plea from a "senior
leader" for a position in the leadership for himself
. As they say 'Some you win, some you lose'. But leadership in the NHS is such an important
issue and the fundamental problem in the NHS that it is why it is too difficult for me to give up. I do hope we can make some
impact at the leadership centre so that people who are passionate about the NHS are given real opportunity.
Copy of UKAID letter to MS Hewitt.
Dear Ms Hewitt,
We the ethnic minority doctors and our well wishers are extremely concerned about the recent changes brought in to
work permit rules by the Government under the directions of the Department of health headed by you.
1) Ethnic minority doctors have worked sincerely
in the NHS and have been uniformly praised for their skill and application. With one sudden act you have removed merit as
a primary criterion in recruitment and replaced it with nationality. This may have implications for patient care as well as
equal opportunities.
2) You are a member of a party once led by
people like Atlee, Bevan, Wilson and others who whatever be their other faults were well known for their commitment to equal
rights. You represent a constituency with cultural diversity and nearly 30% ethnic minority population. So it is doubly surprising
to us that you initiated such an act.
3) The act effectively has stopped in the tracts
training, career development and the livelihood of several doctors who never expected the rules to be changed in the middle
of the game.
4) Meanwhile the GMC continues holding its
PLAB exam and earning a large amount of revenue when it knows well that passing these exams do not lead to employment. The
warnings they post are neither prominent nor effective.
5) HSMP and similar programs are usually meant
to treat skilled immigrants on par with citizens and residents. We are not aware of any other country in the west, which changed
the rules suddenly for skilled migrants.
6) We are surprised by the way the changes
were introduced as compared to other bills which are publicly discusses and showed a certain disregards for the views of nearly
30% of NHS staff.
7) We request you to forthwith withdraw this
new regulation, involve in manpower planning and find a resolution for the Post PLAB doctors who have spend considerable amount
of money and are a serious concern to us.
8)We know you will take the morally correct
position as a representative of a multicultural constituency
Regards
DE00000162495
Dear Mr Gosalakkal,
Thank you for your email of 21 November, in response to my reply to you of 3 November (our ref: DE00000135889).
I am pleased that we have been able to address many of your concerns. We do accept that different
doctors will have different views and that individual organisations will not be able to represent all of these. You
will understand, however, that it is not practical in many cases to meet or discuss issues with individual doctors.
For this reason, we will continue to engage with representative bodies.
We welcome views from different representative groups and I understand that UKAID has been invited to join
the Medical Workforce (Equality and Diversity) Reference Group run by NHS Employers.
I hope this reply is reassuring.
Yours sincerely,
Colin McDonald
Customer Service Centre
Department of Health
