Medical staffing. Exclusion zones

The UK has a lower ratio of doctors to population than most other developed countries. The government's pledge to increase the number of doctors by 9,500 by 2004 will represent only a marginal increase. Reliance on doctors from other parts of Europe, as envisaged in the NHS plan, is not realistic. European countries have provided few doctors for the UK. The position of non-European overseas doctors in the NHS, and the low numbers achieving consultant status, needs a radical review. Institutionalised racism must be addressed. Future medical workforce planning must provide exchange and development opportunities for developing countries.