BBC Scotland‘s insert in BBC Breakfast this morning had the above and online – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp854pn5meno
The bad news was the suggestion that resident doctors in Scotland, despite having settled a pay and conditions deal, unique in the UK, are unhappy and planning to leave the country in numbers. You have to wonder where they got Mike, above, from, and who he is related to/connected to in Scottish Labour.
Is there any basis for worrying about this in Scotland as opposed to in England?
In Scotland, 22% of doctors reported considering moving to practice abroad, which is lower than the UK average of 27%. In England, 27% of doctors reported considering moving to practice abroad, which aligns with the UK average. https://www.gmc-uk.org/cdn/documents/somep-workplace-experiences-report-2025-full-report_pdf-111877911.pdf
Scotland’s better retention is even more impressive still when you consider this:
Scotland has a higher number of medical school places per capita than England. Scotland trains more doctors relative to its population. BMA articles and statements highlight that “current estimates suggest Scotland now has almost twice as many medical students per head of population as England.” https://www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opinion/medical-student-numbers-overwhelm-training-facilities
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My understanding of the problem is specialist training schemes for doctors are operated on a UK wide basis and there are not enough places for junior doctors to move into and get on the path to acquire the qualifications needed to become a consultant. This is a significant factor in many junior doctors moving abroad.
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The Scottish Gov controls the training places for doctors in Scotland. They have increased the number of training places across various specialties each year for about the last 8 years or so. It is the Labour zGov that has cut the number of training places esp GP training places in England. By quite a large margin in some specialisms. It is probably the case that some, many, of these doctors in England who cannot get training places are applying for a place in Scotland which will result in pressure on the system up here
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A link to some stats on training places in Scotland. Scroll down to find the section on Specialty Traaining places and the increase in places
https://www.gov.scot/publications/future-medical-workforce-project-draft-phase-1-report/pages/9/
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Yep 100%.
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I mean Australia is OK, half my family live there, having had well paid jobs, (much much better wages etc than if they’d stayed in UKnotOK) fantastic housing, amazing pensions etc…why is this guy complaining?
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It should be qualified by how many healthcare workers, doctors and nurses etc come to work in Scotland. Far more come than those who leave.
Many foreign people work in the SNHS. A Portuguese doctor, trainee nurse from England, Indian doctor. An eye Doctor from Wales of Pakistan heritage. A medic from Australia. Got stuck over Covid. The list is endless.
Brexit lost EU healthcare workers.
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