Dr Shahid Merali

This may have significant impact on postgraduate GP training…

So – thinking about how many ST1s in 2024 (50%) have a non-UK PMQ – and that the 10 year health plan for England states “an ambition to reduce the proportion of non-UK doctors in training and prioritise postgraduate training opportunities for UK graduates” –

And – 79% of UK graduates that applied for postgraduate training received an offer; compared to only 23% of non-UK graduates (see Figure 9).

In postgraduate training, general practice had the largest increase in non-UK primary medical qualification (PMQ) doctors in training, with the 2024 cohort of ST1 doctors in training being 50% non-UK PMQ and 50% UK PMQ (see Figure 10).

Thank you colleagues at the @gmcuk.bsky.social for the insights in the Workforce Report 2025. These items caught my eye regarding GP training:

Gazan medical student continuing training at Aston University Shahd Alhajjar, 22, says it is her goal to return to Gaza once her training is complete.

Such talented students, such a valuable humanitarian project. These students will make significant impact to the health of the population in Gaza.

Thank you for all the amazing support from colleagues at Aston University, our GP surgeries and hospital placements.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This is a news item about our visiting student on ITV Central news, timestamp 12:53

www.itv.com/watch/news/c...

I feel we have an ethical responsibility, as healthcare professionals and global citizens, to support these medical students.

This project is so important. Medical students’ learning in Gaza has been disrupted. The population has increased health needs, but the healthcare infrastructure has been damaged. If we support these medical students, they can complete their learning here, and go back and serve their population.

Aston Medical School welcomes first medical student from Gaza to support her interrupted learning Aston Medical School has welcomed its first student from Gaza as part of a pilot programme which will bring medical students from regions of conflict and natural disaster to Birmingham to aid their st...

I wanted to share that at Aston Medical School, we have welcomed our first medical student from Gaza

www.aston.ac.uk/latest-news/...

We need massive amounts of humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza. In Cairo supporting UN teams to make it happen. All hands on deck.

People in #Gaza have returned home, only to find ruins.

"We're going back but to nothing."

The ceasefire brings long-overdue hope, but the needs are massive.

Now is the time to deliver aid at scale and help Gazans rebuild their lives.

You can help: https://bit.ly/47n7Onp

We plan to scale up production quickly across all of our field kitchens, working towards our goal of 1 million meals per day in Gaza. The meals from Hayat Kitchen will help meet some of the growing need in Khan Younis, where thousands of displaced families are sheltering. #ChefsForGaza (2/2)

Ceasefire in Gaza: Humanitarian aid must flow immediately | MSF The ceasefire in Gaza must be accompanied by an immediate scale-up of aid into and across the Strip.

We welcome the ceasefire in Gaza.

It must be accompanied by an immediate, massive, and sustained scale-up of aid into and across the Strip:

England is now experiencing a significant Covid wave, after 10 months of relative quiet The latest Covid situation in England and a look at where NHS services are as we head into winter

After a long pause, I've just done another England Covid & NHS update as we head into the autumn/winter season.

TLDR: we're in a significant Covid wave now, the NHS is stretched, get boosted if you're eligible.

christinapagel.substack.com/p/england-is...

Aston Medical School is advertising NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow posts: www.nihr.ac.uk/career-devel...

Specialties include: General Practice, Endocrinology & Diabetes, Neurology, Paediatrics, Clinical Genetics, T&O, O&G, and Psychiatry

Israel is deliberately depriving people of water in #Gaza.

The amount of water available for Palestinians is incredibly insufficient.

This is unacceptable: www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/palestine-is...

🚨REACTION: "There are few crueller ways of killing people than by starvation."

Oxfam GB CEO @halimabegum.bsky.social says the confirmation of famine in Gaza city by the UN-backed food monitor is an "indictment of all humanity."

Read the full statement below.👇

My full statement on the Gaza Famine :

Famine confirmed for first time in Gaza FAO, UNICEF, WFP and WHO reiterate call for immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access to curb deaths from hunger and malnutrition

Famine confirmed for first time in Gaza

www.unicef.org/press-releas...

🚨REACTION: The confirmation of famine in Gaza is not caused by drought or crop failure, but by deliberate political choices.

The UK Government must take action and pressure Israel to allow unconditional, safe humanitarian access.

Read our full reaction 👉 oxf.am/4p3lPyD

Famine has been confirmed in Gaza, with over half a million facing starvation, destitution and death.

We have been warning about this impending tragedy for months. The UK can't say they didn't know this would happen.

1/3

Famine confirmed for first time in Gaza.

Famine confirmed for first time in Gaza
FAO, UNICEF, WFP & WHO reiterate call for immediate ceasefire & unhindered humanitarian access to curb deaths from hunger & malnutrition.

Israeli authorities are starving Palestinians of water | MSF Organisations like MSF would be able to increase the amount of safe water in Gaza, however, Israel is blocking imports of critical water treatment items.

Water and other necessities of life must not be used as weapons of war.

Right now, though, Israel is deliberately depriving people of water in Gaza, as part of its genocidal campaign:

"This study has suggested ways to improve WPBA specifically for trainees receiving an Outcome 2 or 3 at ARCP..."

Water and other necessities of life must not be used as weapons of war.
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/israel-intentionally-depriving-palestinians-water

Israel is threatening to ban major aid organisations as starvation deepens.

We joined 100+ aid and rights groups to call for an end to Israel's weaponisation of aid.

Read our statement here: bit.ly/3UZaRvX

This is truly heartbreaking news and consistent with what we have been denouncing:

There is a genocide happening in Gaza and everyone and everything that is meant to support Palestinian life -- that includes those who are witnesses like journalists -- is at risk or targeted.

But I think the photo was taken in a different season - I wouldn't expect the azimuth of the sun at sunset there in the summer

Sunset! We recently stayed at @nationaltrust.org.uk Coastguard Cottage in Rhossili and enjoyed this serene view!