RCP responds to regulations for 2027 specialty training recruitment

The Medical Training (Prioritisation for Specialty Training Programmes) Regulations 2026, laid before Parliament on 14 September, retain the immigration status provisions used for the 2026 recruitment round. The UK government has said that this will provide continuity while evidence is gathered from future recruitment rounds to inform consideration of alternative approaches in future years.

Professor Mumtaz Patel, RCP president, said:

'The RCP is disappointed that the regulations will continue to use immigration status, rather than significant NHS experience, as the basis for prioritisation in specialty training recruitment from 2027. We have engaged fully and constructively throughout the stakeholder process, supporting a definition of significant NHS experience based on 3 years of NHS work. 

'International medical graduates (IMGs) make a vital contribution to patient care and to the NHS workforce. Many have built careers in the NHS and made a long-term commitment to caring for patients across the UK. Any recruitment system should recognise and support that experience and contribution.

'We welcome the commitment from NHS England and the four UK governments to continue reviewing the evidence, including competition ratios and equality impacts. The RCP will continue to engage and make the case for an approach that directly recognises significant NHS experience.

‘Through our next generation campaign, the RCP has consistently supported the expansion of training opportunities and action to improve career progression for doctors. However, expanding training numbers alone will not be enough. Growth in training places must be supported by sustainable investment, sufficient trainer capacity, protected learning time and the wider workforce infrastructure needed to deliver high-quality training. 

'We will continue to work with government, NHS England, employers and doctors across all career pathways to ensure that future reforms support both a sustainable medical workforce and high-quality patient care.'

The regulations do not prevent applicants who are not prioritised from applying for specialty training. Applicants who are not prioritised may still receive offers where vacancies remain after offers have been made to prioritised applicants. IMGs who have completed, or are completing, the UK Foundation Programme or the relevant previous stage of a UK specialty training programme are already prioritised under the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026.

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