Muslim doctors working in Britain have reacted with dismay after police disclosed that some of the detained suspects worked at NHS hospitals.

Some fear a racial backlash and have given warning that the situation may make it harder for overseas doctors to work or train in Britain.

The most recent figures show that almost 128,000 of the 277,000 doctors on the GMC register have been trained abroad. Of these 1,985 are from Iraq and 184 from Jordan. More than 27,000 are from India.

A skills gap in Britain meant that, with the exception of consultants, doctors from outside the EU did not require a work permit to work here until last year. Ministers changed this only as the expansion in medical school places several years ago led to a boom in British-trained doctors.

The Home Office is now in charge of issuing work permits and visas as it would for other professions. Doctors coming from abroad are required to undergo several other clinical, language and criminal background tests to ensure that they are fit to practise. However, Sian Thomas, deputy director of NHS Employers, which represents health trusts, said although “thorough and robust checks” were in place, they did not include an inquiry into religious or political affiliations.

Faisal Hanjra, 23, a medical student and spokesman for the Federation of Student Islamic Societies, said: “If a doctors is identifiable as a Muslim because of their beard or hijab, we are worried that the trust between them and a patient could be compromised.”

Prasad Rao, chairman of the British International Doctors’ Association (BIDA) said: “It is very disturbing. I am shocked to hear that any doctor could be connected to this type of activity. We are more vulnerable than the indigenous population.”

Edwin Borman, chairman of the British Medical Association’s international committee, said if allegations were proven against doctors it would be a “betrayal” of society because of the oath, in which they pledge to do no harm. But he added: “It must be remembered that the NHS has benefitted from doctors [from abroad].”

Ramesh Mehta, consultant paediatrician at Bedford Hospital and President of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, urged his members “not to panic”.

“I hope the British public have common sense to know that overseas doctors have done extremely well for the NHS over the last 50 years and you can’t change that overnight. These bad apples could have been from any profession.”

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