Statutory Instruments
2026 No. 1019
NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
The Medical Training (Prioritisation for Specialty Training Programmes) Regulations 2026
Made
10th September 2026
Laid before Parliament
14th September 2026
Coming into force
1st January 2027
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 3(1)(d), 3(2)(d), 3(3)(b), 6(1)(a), 7(1)(a) and 7(2) of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026(1).
In accordance with section 7(3) of that Act, the Secretary of State has obtained the consent of the Welsh Ministers, the Scottish Ministers and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.
Citation and Commencement
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Medical Training (Prioritisation for Specialty Training Programmes) Regulations 2026.
(2) These Regulations come into force on 1st January 2027.
Extent
2. These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Interpretation
3. In these Regulations “ the Act ” means the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 .
Description of Persons Prioritised for Interviews
4. For the purpose of section 3(1)(d) of the Act the description of persons who must be offered interviews for a place on a UK specialty training programme before any other eligible applicants is—
(a)a British citizen,
(b)a Commonwealth citizen who has the right of abode in the United Kingdom under section 2 of the Immigration Act 1971(2),
(c)an Irish citizen who does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom under that Act,
(d)a person with indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or
(e)a person who has leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom which was granted by virtue of residence scheme immigration rules within the meaning given by section 17 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020(3).
Description of Persons Prioritised for Offers of Places
5. For the purpose of section 3(2)(d) of the Act the description of persons who must be offered places on a UK specialty training programme before any other eligible applicants is—
(a)a British citizen,
(b)a Commonwealth citizen who has the right of abode in the United Kingdom under section 2 of the Immigration Act 1971,
(c)an Irish citizen who does not require leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom under that Act,
(d)a person with indefinite leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or
(e)a person who has leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom which was granted by virtue of residence scheme immigration rules within the meaning given by section 17 of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020.
Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Karin Smyth
Minister of State
Department of Health and Social Care
10th September 2026
1971 c. 77; section 2 was substituted by the British Nationality Act 1981 (c. 61), section 39(2) (with section 52(7) and Schedule 8). Subsection (2) was subsequently amended by the Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations S.I. 2019/745, Part 2(1), regulation 4(2).