Wigan surgeon awarded MBE by Queen for bringing international doctors to the NHS
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Prof S Raj Murali, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon based at Wrightington Hospital, has received an MBE for services to international doctors working in the NHS.
With a team at Edge Hill University, he developed a postgraduate training programme for overseas doctors which allows experienced international clinicians, who have higher postgraduate qualifications, to come to the UK and study, while gaining further clinical experience in the NHS.
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Hide AdIt has become the second largest programme for training international doctors in the UK.
Prof Murali, who lives in Orrell, said: “In 2004 I started a programme here at WWL to see how we could attract international doctors to work in Wigan, rather than anywhere else. The theory was if we could make the opportunity exciting enough for them, they would stay here.”
The project now encompasses more than 50 specialities and attracts hundreds of doctors, while 250 nurses have taken part in a similar scheme.
Some of the doctors continue working in the NHS when the programme ends, while others return to their home countries and use their new skills there.
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Hide AdProf Murali said: “For Wigan the benefits are having a hospital that’s fully staffed, that means better patient care and all the benefits that brings. It’s also good for British doctors, because if people are filling the various positions available, they can get their training properly as well. Our international doctors learns about new techniques in the NHS. It’s win, win for everyone.”