International Medical Graduate (IMG) Welfare Service
The IMG Welfare Service exists to support new-to-the UK doctors, within their first year in the UK, to settle into life in the UK.
The IMG Welfare Service is open to:
- New-to UK doctors in training posts anywhere in Wessex Deanery, including Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Dorset, Salisbury, and Jersey.
- New-to UK doctors employed by any Trust or GP surgery (including locally employed doctors) within the Wessex Deanery footprint, including Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Dorset, and Salisbury.
If you are not sure if you meet our referral criteria, please contact us on IMGWelfareService@southernhealth.nhs.uk
Our Welfare Officers are available Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm (except Bank Holidays) and Wednesday from 9am to 8pm.
The IMG Welfare Service aims to support new-to-the-UK doctors with practical aspects of settling in a new country and community. This could include how to register with a GP and a dentist, exploring childcare options, opening bank accounts, setting up a TV licence, registering for council tax, and signposting to information on finding accommodation, identifying local cultural or religious support networks, etc.
Doctors can self-refer to this service at any point during their first year in the UK. If you have been in the UK for longer than this, please email the team first to discuss whether we are still able to support you.
The IMG Welfare Service is also able to support spouses / partners of doctors eligible to use the service. This will be discussed with IMG doctors during their first appointment with a Welfare Officer, and a spouse / partner referral form link will be provided at that point if required.
We know it takes time to settle into a new life in the UK – we are here to help.
To self-refer please complete the self-referral form:
If you have queries about the IMG Welfare Service, please contact our team on imgwelfareservice@southernhealth.nhs.uk