docincognito, don't disagree (completely). just think strange things are happening. In a certain surgical speciality there is supposed to be a shortness of consultants, but they (understandably) can not just increase the number of training posts. So here they appointed a consultant from abroad, However, he wasn't given any "facilty" to do his work (no theatre time, beds etc). So after 1 year he went back to his own country...
I agree you want to appoint foreign doctors of a certain standard, just think it is wrong to do it by selectively applying the Plab (which I gather the majority of Cambridge students failed). I prefer the American way where everyone, including american graduates sit the same exam.
I agree that too senior doctors may not be very good in day to day work on the ward, but neither may someone in his first SHO job.
Yes, in some specialities like GP, geriatrics there is still an oppportunities, but you will still have to apply for other more competitive jobs first, as part of the training.
OK, no one is forced into dead end jobs but in other countries these dead end jobs don't exist. If you don't succeed in one speciality you will not be able to continue for ages till it is too late to change speciality (because by then no one wants to apploint these too senior doctors for day to day work on the ward which they are not supposed to be able to do.
O well, who ever in MN knows me in real live will now certainly recognise me..