Blog / Building your portfolio
How to find and ask for a clinical attachment in the UK
There is no national list of clinical attachments (also called observerships) in the UK, and no single place to apply. The BMA says so itself: there is no UK-wide tool for finding one. If you trained overseas, that leaves you to pick a hospital, find the right person and ask.
This guide covers where to look, what to put in your request and what to check before you pay anything. If you want to know first what an attachment is and what it is not, read whether a clinical attachment counts as NHS experience.
Before you start
An attachment is not a requirement for GMC registration or for working in the NHS. The BMA says experience suggests doing one shortly before PLAB 2 or after you have passed it, because that is when you get the most from it. Attachments usually last two to four months and cost from £400. Once you have passed, our post on GMC registration after PLAB covers the next step.
Ask what a scheme includes before you pay, and be wary of anything that promises a job. An attachment is not a substitute for one, so see how to apply for NHS jobs without NHS experience.
Where to look
- Search the internet for the hospital's name plus "clinical attachment", and include postgraduate deaneries in your search. This is the BMA's suggestion.
- Look at the trust's own website. Medical education or postgraduate centre pages are a good place to start. This one is our advice, not the BMA's.
- Ask friends or family who work in an NHS hospital whether they can introduce you to a consultant in your specialty. The BMA suggests this too.
- Write to the department directly, with a short, polite email. We give a model below.
What to put in your request
When a trust has a form, fill it in as instructed. When you are writing a letter, the BMA suggests including:
- your personal details
- why you want to do a clinical attachment
- a short outline of your medical background and career plans, and why this specialty interests you
- what you hope to get from the attachment
- your level of clinical expertise and your previous work experience in health
- whether you are applying for GMC registration, and how far you have got
- a current CV
Once you have done one, list it correctly in your employment history.
Clinical attachment email: a short template to adapt
Keep it brief, because a busy consultant will skim it. The wording below is our suggestion, so change it to fit you.
Subject: Request for a clinical attachment in [specialty]
Dear Dr [surname],
I am a doctor trained in [country] with [number] years of experience in [specialty]. I have [passed / am preparing for] PLAB 2 and [have applied / plan to apply] for GMC registration.
I would like to ask whether your department offers clinical attachments and, if so, how to apply. I hope to observe [specialty] practice and learn how teams in the NHS work, and I will follow whatever process you use.
My CV is attached. Thank you for your time.
Yours sincerely,
[full name]
Write to one person at a time. In our experience, if you get no answer after about two weeks, a single polite reminder is fine. Do not send the same message to lots of people at the same hospital.
What the hospital may ask for
The BMA lists these conditions for an attachment:
- a criminal records check
- proof of identity
- English at IELTS or OET level 7.5, or an equivalent level you can show, if you are not a native English speaker
- occupational health clearance from the trust
- attendance at the doctors' induction day, where there is one
- satisfactory references from the referees named on the form
For visas, the BMA says doctors from outside the EEA generally need a standard visitor visa, which lasts six months at most. In that time you can take PLAB 2 and complete the attachment. Rules depend on your nationality, and GOV.UK says some visitors need a visa, some an electronic travel authorisation and some neither, so check the Standard Visitor guidance before you book anything.
Finding hospital contacts
Finding a name and an address can be the slow part. Anyone with a free account gets a Clinical attachments tab in the dashboard, with contacts grouped by hospital. We do not show the addresses on this site, only after you sign in.
Common questions
How do I get a clinical attachment in the UK?
There is no single application route and no UK-wide tool for finding one, the BMA says. Search hospital and deanery websites, ask people who work in an NHS hospital, or email a department with your CV and a short request. Follow the trust's own form if it has one.
What is the difference between a clinical attachment and an observership?
The two names are often used for the same thing: a short period in an NHS department, usually observing practice. Hospitals use different names, so search for both.
How long does a clinical attachment last and what does it cost?
The BMA says attachments usually last between two and four months and cost from £400. Check what a scheme includes before you pay.
What will a hospital ask for before I start?
The BMA lists a criminal records check, proof of identity, English at IELTS or OET level 7.5 (or an equivalent you can show) if English is not your first language, occupational health clearance, attendance at the doctors' induction day where there is one, and satisfactory references.
When is the best time to do a clinical attachment?
The BMA says experience suggests doing one shortly before PLAB 2 or after you have passed it, so you get the most out of it. It is not a requirement for GMC registration or for working in the NHS.
Sources
- BMA, clinical attachments: https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/international-doctors/getting-a-job-in-the-uk/clinical-attachments
- GOV.UK, criminal records checks for overseas applicants: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants
- GOV.UK, visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor
Health Job Scout emails you NHS junior doctor jobs as they are published. Start your free 3-day trial, no card needed.