Doctor’s blog makes national publication
Date of release: 28 August 2024
An award-winning Wolverhampton Doctor has appeared in a national publication for her blog on innovative leadership.
Dr Roopa Chopra
Dr Roopa Chopra, Clinical Lead for General Internal Medicine and Acting-up Consultant Physician at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), has had her work published in the Royal College of Physicians’ August newsletter.
In her 880-word piece headlined ‘International medical graduates: supporting the backbone of the NHS’, Dr Chopra, who is based at New Cross Hospital, reflects on her challenges settling in the UK after arriving as an International Medical Graduate (IMG) from India in 2016.
Getting used to the Black Country accent – English isn’t her first language – NHS acronyms, and adapting to patient flow, care homes, nursing homes and packages of care were other challenges she encountered.
Socially, Dr Chopra knew no one locally and there were no support groups in the Trust to make new friends.
Now international Doctors and Nurses have buddies and WhatsApp groups so people can interact – all developed through Dr Chopra and her experiences.
She says through the introduction of RWT’s Clinical Fellowship Programme (CFP) – a scheme to develop international Doctors and Nurses – she became a mentor helping other international recruits settle.
Dr Chopra started her leadership path as the CFP’s Pastoral Lead, helping fellow medics and Nurses settle.
She was soon appointed as Chief Clinical Fellow, and then as Chief Registrar at the Trust, a first for a locally employed doctor.
“Simple things, such as finding housing, were a struggle,” wrote Dr Chopra. “Unlike Doctors, letting agents don’t work unsocial hours, and back-to-back viewings had to be completed on Saturday mornings.
“Soon after my arrival, a CFP started in my Trust, giving me the opportunity to help develop a formal support process and give something back to the system.
“I have been fortunate to work with like-minded and passionate people on improving the transition of IMGs into the NHS.
“We have developed a variety of support services, including a buddy system, on-call inductions, IMG education sessions and portfolio pathway support services. The programme has supported IMGs to have successful careers.
“My senior colleagues have been highly supportive, while helping me stay grounded.
“Recently several organisations, including the NHS, General Medical Council, British Medical Association and the Medical Protection Society, came together to publish a guide to induction for IMGs recruited to the NHS”
Dr Chopra’s quote of “If I had a magic wand, I would ensure all NHS Trusts and health boards are able to support IMGs, especially as this has been clearly shown to improve performance and, in turn, patient care” has been included in the RCP’s new guidance on educational and career support for Locally Employed Doctors (LEDs) and IMGs
ENDS
- Last October, Dr Chopra was awarded the 2024 Turner-Warwick Lecture for the West Midlands region. The Turner-Warwick Lecturer Scheme is the RCPs’ prestigious lecturer scheme for trainee Physicians celebrating the life and achievements of Professor Dame Margaret Turner-Warwick, its first female president
- For further information, please call Tim Nash on 07714 741097 or email tim.nash2@nhs.net
