Immigration problems faced by overseas doctors seeking work in the UK must be tackled urgently because the health service needs them, the BMA (British Medical Association) says.

The association has received a number of worrying reports from doctors caught up in red tape and delays. It is costing them hundreds of pounds and preventing them from working - despite a government drive to recruit overseas medics.

Two doctors experienced delays of more than six weeks in being granted work permits - even though they had been told their applications were successful.

In a letter to Home Office minister Des Brown and health minister John Hutton, BMA international committee chairman Edwin Borman said: ’These issues need to be addressed urgently because we are very reliant on overseas doctors to staff the NHS and are actively recruiting doctors to work in the UK.’

Call to find doctor jobs for ’surplus’ medical students.

A group of ’extra’ medical students must not be lost to Scotland, doctors leaders say.

The extra students are expected to graduate next year. They are the result of a blip in Scottish medical school admissions four years ago when about 90 more people than expected accepted places.

With fears over recruitment and retention of doctors in Scotland, the BMA wants the Scottish Executive to provide the cash to keep them north of the border.

Junior doctors leader Jason Long said: ’We’re in a country with more ill health than almost anywhere in Europe. Do we really want the message to go out that we’re kicking doctors out of Scotland?’

British Medical Association