The Postgraduate training system in the UK is currently undergoing a radical change, with the creation of new "Foundation Courses", running over 2 years, for new medical grads. You now need to complete this course in order to progress on to specialist training (3-5+ years depending on speciality). Foreign grads are ineligible for F(Foundation) 1 posts, as they have already completed this year (probably) in their own country and also the F1 year is only open to UK and some EU medical grads. There are very few stand alone F2 posts for foreign medical grads to apply to.
It is true that several (100+) UK grads who completed their first postgraduate year last year failed to secure jobs and are now unemployed! There appears to have perhaps been a gross overestimation in the calculations regarding the numbers of foreign grads we need in the UK at present. Consequently, many post PLAB doctors may be finding it hard to secure any employment, let alone a training post.
If UK grads are not being employed, I would have thought perhaps overseas recruitment needs to be radically reviewed or even halted for present? It seems unfair to all to recruit people, entice them to the UK to work and then fail to offer any employment.
Obviously the situation in Australia is different at present. many UK docs are moving there to work also!
