Doctors challenged by law change

Dr Shah came to the UK on a highly skilled migrant programme

New employment rules could force some overseas health workers in the East Midlands to leave.

Health trusts have been told that from August they cannot take on foreign doctors if there are suitable British or European applicants.

Many doctors from countries like India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan working for the NHS now face major upheavals.

The British Medical Association said the government has acted without properly consulting the profession.

Dr Nimit Shah, a cardiologist at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, realises his contract as a locum registrar is unlikely to be renewed in four months time.

It seems like the goal post has been changed mid-way in the game Peeyush Kumar, Anaesthetist

He said: "I won't be shortlisted, I won't be considered for the job. Which means that I'll have to go back to India or look for somewhere alternative - which is having quite a toll on me and my family."

Dr Shah came to Britain five years ago as part of a highly-skilled migrant programme when there was a skills shortage but said the stress of uncertainty over his futures is affecting his health.

Last week the High Court ruled against a judicial review of the government's decision to restrict job opportunities to doctors from outside the EU.

Specialist Dr Shilpa Kumar is looking for work in India

But it did find the Department of Health had failed to consult the medical profession and had not followed the necessary race relations procedures.

Dr Edwin Borman, of the British Medical Association, said "It's meant that doctors coming from abroad have not been able to plan adequately with regards to their careers, and many of them have been stuck with big mortgages and no career prospects. It's been very damaging."

The BBC's Politics Show asked the government to explain its chance of policy but the Department of Health declined the invitation.

A spokesman said it was reconsidering its guidance on highly-skilled migrants undergoing training in the NHS but there were no plans for a change in the rules.

They've made a contribution to our country and we should thank them for that. Keith Vaz, Leicester East MP

Dr Shilpa Kumar, a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, is already exploring job opportunities in India.

She had been working in Britain along with her husband Peeyush, currently an anaesthetist in Derby.

"I'm totally frustrated in suddenly being told there are no jobs available and I might have to go back home," he said.

"It seems like the goal post has been changed mid-way in the game."

Given that we're now producing so many doctors it is inevitable that a change is made Kenneth Clarke, former Health Secretary

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said: "We encouraged them to come here, if we're now saying they should go back, we should give them whatever concessions are needed to make sure that phased withdrawal is done with dignity and humanity, because they've made a contribution to our country and we should thank them for that."

But speaking on the BBC's Politics Show Kenneth Clarke, Rushcliffe MP and former health secretary, said: "Given that we're now producing so many doctors it is inevitable that a change is made.

"We can't carry on taking trainee doctors on the same scale in future, from the sub continent, from Africa, from the third world, where we've got some very, very good doctors in the past.

"But frankly you'll just have a surplus of medical people in this country and a shortage of doctors in many developing countries."