One in five doctors keen to work abroad: GMC

Key Summary

• The doctors claimed the main reason for moving abroad was that they were “treated better”
• Around 43 per cent of doctors told the GMC that they had researched career opportunities in other countries
• One in three doctors said they are unable to progress their education, training and careers in the way they want

The Labour government's pledge to cut the NHS waiting lists could be at risk as one in five doctors are keen to work abroad, the medical regulator has warned.

The General Medical Council (GMC) has stated in its workplace experience report, based on responses from 4,697 doctors, that almost a fifth of doctors (19 per cent) are thinking of giving up their career in the UK.

The doctors claimed the main reason for moving abroad was that they were “treated better”, and pay was the second most common reason.

Around 43 per cent of doctors told the GMC that they had researched career opportunities in other countries.

Some 15 per cent of doctors reported they had taken ‘hard steps’ such as applying for roles overseas or contacting recruiters.

Prime minister Keir Starmer has pledged that 92 per cent of patients will be seen within 18 weeks for routine hospital treatment such as hip and knee replacements by July 2029.

The GMC report said this could now be under threat.

“We must be alive to the ongoing risks to retention of doctors and the impact of losing talented staff,” the authors of the report warned.

“This could threaten government ambitions to reduce waiting times and deliver better care to patients.”

The report comes amid the ongoing strike action by resident doctors over the government's refusal to give in to their demands for a 29 per cent salary increase.

The GMC’s latest report also raised concerns about career progression for medics.

Overall, one in three doctors said they are unable to progress their education, training, and careers in the way they want.

The report said these doctors were at higher risk of burnout and were less satisfied with their work.

Whereas 8 per cent of doctors, who felt they could not progress their career in the UK, were likely to look for work overseas.

The BMA had earlier raised concerns about the number of resident doctors unable to get specialist training jobs, with 30,000 doctors applying for around 10,000 posts each year.