DOCTORS from overseas who are helping to maintain medical services at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, say they have received ‘a wonderful welcome’ from the NHS and patients alike. 

Eight international doctors have now been employed directly by Hywel Dda University Health Board as clinical fellows to support the junior doctor rota and maintain emergency and medical services at the hospital for the Pembrokeshire population.

They have been provided with a two-year training scheme which mirrors many elements of the traditional core medical training (CMT) scheme for junior doctors in the UKs after Withybush Hospital was not allocated any CMTs in August of this year.

Twenty-seven-year-old Yan Lynn Htoo, from Burma, is based in the Emergency and Urgent Care Centre.

He said: “I applied for the job after seeing it advertised on the NHS jobs website and both the hospital and the local area have exceeded my expectations. I was quite anxious when I arrived having not worked in the UK before, but my shadowing and training has been invaluable and I have been supported by the whole multi-disciplinary team.

“In Myanmar (Burma) there is quite a hierarchy where doctors delegate responsibility for things like investigations and bloods to other members of staff. Here the doctor keeps responsibility and that is of benefit as you are personally responsible and there is less likelihood of unnecessary delay or information being missed in translation.

“Everything is computerised, so that has definitely been something of a challenge to overcome but colleagues have been really helpful and we work as one team. Patients have also been very nice and it has been a real insight to be based in the emergency department and see a full range of presentations from those with medical complaints, to those needing surgery, or young children with minor injuries.”

Dr Htoo undertook his medical training back in Myanmar (Burma) and worked previously in Mandalay General Hospital in the specialist areas of medicine, surgery, paediatrics, and obstetrics and gynaecology.

“Although some healthcare is provided free of charge in Myanmar (Burma), for specialist investigations like CT scans you usually have to pay,” he said. “Hopefully one day Myanmar (Burma) will have a system similar to the NHS where healthcare is free at the point of delivery.”

Dr Htoo’s initial intense induction is now complete and he is playing an active role on the junior doctor rota, whilst at the same time studying to achieve further qualifications over a two year period. This will be invaluable to my future career and I am very grateful,” he said.

Dr Htoo is also hoping to spend time travelling around Pembrokeshire and the local area. “I researched the area before applying for the position and part of the attraction was the beautiful beaches, which surpass those in England. I can see the hospital has its challenges being in a rural area, but hopefully this programme is part of the solution.”

The training programme offered by Hywel Dda University Health Board is the first of its kind in Wales and aims to recruit doctors to rural hospitals in an environment of a shortage of junior doctors across the UK. As part of the scheme, the university health board purchases an e-portfolio for each doctor to enable them to build their competencies and achieve qualifications just like other trainee doctors in the NHS.

Another clinical fellow who joined the scheme is 27-year-old Azhar Hussain, from Pakistan. Dr Hussain, who trained at Mayo Hospital in Lahore, is based primarily with the gastroenteritis team.

He said: “I am very grateful to Hywel Dda University Health Board for investing so robustly into this training scheme, which will give each of us invaluable portfolio experience over the two years. I don’t think any other hospital in the UK is doing this and I must say the whole experience – from the induction to the teaching and support with settling into the UK – has been excellent.

“The whole multi-disciplinary team at Withybush Hospital have been very patient and helpful with us. I would particularly like to mention the pharmacy department who have gone out of their way to assist us with protocols, my educational mentor Dr Faiz Ali who has taken such a personal interest in my wellbeing, Dr Chris James who has given much of his time to the clinical fellows on a daily basis, Erika Cowie and Tracy Sandell from Medical Education for setting up everything for our in-hospital simulation training sessions, and the entire medical, nursing, HR and Post Graduate support teams.”

Dr Hussain and his wife are settling well into the Haverfordwest area and have enjoyed seeing some of the local beauty spots and sites of interest.

“I must admit the weather hasn’t been the most co-operative,” said Dr Hussain. “I was working with the out-of-hours GPs the other evening when storm Barney hit and the winds shook the car as we passed over the Cleddau Bridge.”

Chief Executive Steve Moore recently met with Dr Htoo, Dr Hussain and others employed as part of the programme. He said: “Last summer we were faced with a great challenge and we put huge effort into finding a solution that would work for our area. It has been great to hear first-hand how this training is benefiting these doctors, whilst also contributing to our ability to sustain healthcare services for our population.

“We don’t underestimate the ongoing challenges with recruitment in medical and nursing staff, but this scheme is part of what we are doing proactively to adapt to the environment in which we operate.”