Overseas Doctors Training Scheme.

The Overseas Doctors Training Scheme was estab lished by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in August 1989. Feedback from trainees placed in post has indicated that their early experience in the UK could have been eased had they been able to attend an induction course which addressed their specific needs. In response to this the Overseas Liaison Com mittee decided to hold their first induction course on 27 and 28 January 1992 for all the sponsored trainees commencing in post in February. Fourteen doctors attended this course which consisted of a series of short seminars on a variety of subjects together with a talk from trainees already in post and an evening reception. Day 1 provided a general introduction to medical practice in the UK and the purpose and role of the College in the training of overseas doctors. The Dean welcomed the new trainees to the UK and the Overseas Doctors Training Scheme and this was fol lowed by a short history of the College by Professor Sydney Brandon. The President gave an overview of the development of the College's role in the train ing of overseas doctors. Miss Buckley, Personnel Manager from the Charing Cross Scheme, gave a most valuable outline of personal and domestic issues embracing finance, emigration and accommodation. The new overseas trainees were invited to an open forum of overseas doctors at which trainees already in post gave an interesting account of their early experience in the UK. Day 2 was arranged on an informal, interactive, seminar basis aimed at providing an introduction to the clinical, legal and sociological aspects of psychiatric practice in Britain. Seminars were led Warwick). Topics discussed included the range of mental illness in the UK; patterns of psychiatric practice in the UK; role of allied professions; mental health legislation; liaison psychiatry, sociological aspects of psychiatry and the cultural basis of psy chiatry in the UK. The level of interaction between the seminar leaders and participants was high throughout the day, both during the lectures and plenary sessions and over the excellent lunch, coffee and tea breaks provided by the College. Feedback from all participants indicated that this was a valuable learning experience for students and tutors alike. It is planned to hold this induction course twice yearly before trainees take up post on 1 February and 1 August.