A lack of training places is delaying doctors becoming GPs - and that is not the only NHS staffing problem, the British Medical Association has said ahead of its annual conference.

Recruitment and retention of NHS staff has become a major problem for the government in recent months.

The BMA - the doctors' trade union - found that among 500 medical graduates who qualified in 1995, many were having to alter their career plans because of the shortage of training places.

While waiting for a training place some doctors were going into research posts or studying for a further degree, the report said.

Others were working as locums or taking up posts which had no training content.

Assisted suicide

The study is one of a number of issues being raised during the BMA's annual conference, attended by 500 delegates, in Harrogate this week.

Other subjects due for discussion include vaccines for NHS staff in the case of germ warfare; CCTV in surgeries; the MMR vaccine and assisted suicide.

On Sunday the BMA will publish the findings of a MORI poll which asked patients what they thought about government proposals to treat more people overseas or in private hospitals.

The proposals are among Health Secretary Alan Milburn's plans to cut waiting times in the NHS.

Other plans, published this week, include recruiting overseas staff for staff private sector facilities that treat NHS patients.

Refugee doctors

The Department of Health denied Sunday newspaper reports that the policy had run into trouble.

It had been suggested some countries had complained to the government about its aggressive recruitment of overseas health service staff.

But in a statement, the Department of Health said: "We have not received a single complaint."

It added: "We are working in conjunction with these countries to ethically recruit staff. We have had warm support from developing countries regarding our ethical international recruitment."

The BMA has said it is ironic that despite the NHS staff shortages, refugee doctors face huge hurdles to using their skills in the UK.

Most refugee doctors, no matter how qualified, have to begin their training all over again when they come to Britain - a process which can take up to 10 years.

The BMA has said refugee doctors are a valuable resource and should be integrated into the NHS.

This will be another subject up for discussion at the conference.