Latest news with #CharlieMassey
Medscape
07-08-2025
- Health
- Medscape
GMC: Burnout Drops, But Doctors Still Eyeing Exit
Doctors in the UK reported ' marginal, but clear' improvements in wellbeing in 2024, according to the General Medical Council (GMC). Its latest report found that overall satisfaction had risen, burnout risk had dropped, and workloads had eased slightly. However, almost one in five (19%) said they were considering leaving the UK to work abroad – a figure largely unchanged from 18% in 2022 and 20% in 2023. Career Stagnation a Major Concern A third of doctors said they were unable to progress in their education, training, or careers in the way they wanted. The GMC warned that heavy workloads, competition for posts, and lack of senior support for development were harming doctors' career prospects. The report found a clear link between career control and their overall wellbeing. Among doctors who felt able to progress as they wished, 81% reported job satisfaction and 59% were at very low risk of burnout. In contrast, only 33% of those lacking this sense of control were satisfied, and just 18% were at very low risk of burnout. GMC chief executive Charlie Massey said: 'Like any profession, doctors who are disillusioned with their careers will start looking elsewhere." Growing Interest in Overseas Work The report, based on responses from 4697 doctors around the UK, showed that 43% had looked into opportunities abroad. The top reason for considering emigration was the perception that doctors are 'treated better' overseas. Pay was the second most common reason. Some 15% had taken 'hard steps' towards leaving UK practice, such as applying for roles or contacting recruiters. 'We must be alive to the ongoing risks to retention of doctors and the impact of losing talented staff,' the report warned. 'This could threaten Government ambitions to reduce waiting times and deliver better care to patients.' GPs Under Greatest Strain The findings highlighted notable differences between specialties, with general practitioners facing particularly high levels of pressure. GPs were 50% more likely to be struggling compared with all doctors (44% versus 29%). Nearly half (46%) said they were dissatisfied, compared with 33% of all doctors. In addition, 61% of GPs said they found it difficult to provide adequate patient care at least once a week, compared with 40% of all doctors. Burnout Down, Stress Leave Up The proportion of doctors at high risk of burnout dropped from 25% in 2022 to 18% in 2024. However, almost a quarter (23%) took a leave of absence due to stress in 2024 – nearly double the 12% reported in 2019. Although 59% of doctors were satisfied with their day-to-day work in 2024 — up from 53% in 2023 — this remained lower than the 2019 figure of 63%. 'Without action, ambitions to move more patient care from hospitals to communities may well be thwarted,' the GMC warned. Patient Safety Still at Risk In 2024, 40% of doctors said they had seen patient safety being compromised – a figure broadly in line with previous years. The same proportion reported struggling to provide sufficient care weekly – slightly down from 43% in 2023 but still higher than the 34% in the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Inadequate staffing remained the most frequently reported barrier to care, cited by 72% of doctors. Regional Variations Doctors in England, Scotland, and Wales generally reported workplace experiences in line with the UK average. However, in Northern Ireland, responses were notably more negative. There, 26% of doctors were at high risk of burnout compared with an 18% UK average. More than half (54%) said they struggled to provide patient care at least once a week, compared with an average of 40% across the UK as a whole. 'Doctors need to be satisfied, supported, and see a hopeful future for themselves, or we may risk losing their talent and expertise altogether,' warned Massey. Reaction to the Report Commenting on the GMC report, Billy Palmer, senior fellow at the Nuffield Trust think tank, said: 'Pay and industrial action have been a lightning rod for dissatisfaction among doctors, but this survey puts a spotlight on the wider difficulties facing the medical profession. Job guarantees, better rotas and placements, and protection of training time all need to be on the table.' Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, called for the report's findings to be taken seriously by the NHS. 'It is encouraging to see 'green shoots' emerging, including improvements in doctors' workplace experiences for the second year in a row, and a reduction in burnout risk,' he said. 'But more needs to be done to get back to where we were before the pandemic.'
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
UK warned it risks exodus of 'disillusioned' doctors
Nearly one in five doctors is considering quitting in the UK, new figures show, while one in eight is thinking about leaving the country to work abroad. The General Medical Council (GMC), which commissioned the research, is warning that plans to cut hospital waiting lists will be at risk unless more is done to retain them. By July 2029, the prime minister has said 92% of patients needing routine hospital treatment like hip and knee replacements will be . "[Poor staff retention] could threaten government ambitions to reduce waiting times and deliver better care to patients," warned the authors of the GMC's latest report. The main reason doctors gave for considering moving abroad was they are "treated better" in other countries, while the second most common reason was better pay. Some 43% said they had researched career opportunities in other countries, while 15% reported taking "hard steps" towards moving abroad, like applying for roles or contacting recruiters. "Like any profession, doctors who are disillusioned with their careers will start looking elsewhere," said Charlie Massey, chief executive of the GMC. "Doctors need to be satisfied, supported, and see a hopeful future for themselves, or we may risk losing their talent and expertise altogether." Read more on Sky News:Airport reopens after plane incidentReeves told big tax rises neededHiroshima survivor's warning, 80 years on The report - which comes after a recent five-day walkout by resident doctors - is based on the responses of 4,697 doctors around the UK and also explores how they feel about career progression. One in three said they are unable to progress their education, training and careers in the way they want. Those who didn't feel like their careers were progressing were at higher risk of burnout and were less satisfied with their work. The GMC blamed workloads, competition for jobs, and lack of senior support for development for adversely impacting the career progression of UK doctors. 'Legitimate complaints' The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged doctors had suffered "more than a decade of neglect". "Doctors have legitimate complaints about their conditions, including issues with training bottlenecks and career progression," said a spokesperson. "We want to work with them to address these and improve their working lives, which includes our plans set out in the 10 Year Health Plan to prioritise UK graduates and increase speciality training posts. "This government is committed to improving career opportunities and working conditions, bringing in ways to recognise and reward talent - as well as freeing up clinicians' time by cutting red tape."
Sky News
07-08-2025
- Health
- Sky News
UK warned it risks exodus of 'disillusioned' doctors
Nearly one in five doctors is considering quitting in the UK, new figures show, while one in eight is thinking about leaving the country to work abroad. The General Medical Council (GMC), which commissioned the research, is warning that plans to cut hospital waiting lists will be at risk unless more is done to retain them. By July 2029, the prime minister has said 92% of patients needing routine hospital treatment like hip and knee replacements will be seen within 18 weeks. "[Poor staff retention] could threaten government ambitions to reduce waiting times and deliver better care to patients," warned the authors of the GMC's latest report. The main reason doctors gave for considering moving abroad was they are "treated better" in other countries, while the second most common reason was better pay. Some 43% said they had researched career opportunities in other countries, while 15% reported taking "hard steps" towards moving abroad, like applying for roles or contacting recruiters. "Like any profession, doctors who are disillusioned with their careers will start looking elsewhere," said Charlie Massey, chief executive of the GMC. "Doctors need to be satisfied, supported, and see a hopeful future for themselves, or we may risk losing their talent and expertise altogether." 3:13 The report - which comes after a recent five-day walkout by resident doctors - is based on the responses of 4,697 doctors around the UK and also explores how they feel about career progression. One in three said they are unable to progress their education, training and careers in the way they want. Those who didn't feel like their careers were progressing were at higher risk of burnout and were less satisfied with their work. The GMC blamed workloads, competition for jobs, and lack of senior support for development for adversely impacting the career progression of UK doctors. 2:51 'Legitimate complaints' The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged doctors had suffered "more than a decade of neglect". "Doctors have legitimate complaints about their conditions, including issues with training bottlenecks and career progression," said a spokesperson. "We want to work with them to address these and improve their working lives, which includes our plans set out in the 10 Year Health Plan to prioritise UK graduates and increase speciality training posts. "This government is committed to improving career opportunities and working conditions, bringing in ways to recognise and reward talent - as well as freeing up clinicians' time by cutting red tape."
Times
06-08-2025
- Health
- Times
Fifth of NHS doctors are sick of working in the UK
One in five NHS doctors say they are considering quitting or moving abroad in pursuit of better pay and working conditions. The belief that doctors are 'treated better' overseas is the main factor driving them to countries such as Australia and Canada, according to a report by the General Medical Council (GMC). Its annual survey, of a representative sample of nearly 5,000 doctors, found that two thirds of those considering moving abroad also wanted higher pay. The report also found high levels of frustration with training. One in three doctors said they were struggling to progress in their careers because of a lack of NHS training posts. Overall, 19 per cent of doctors were considering leaving work in the UK. Forty-three per cent told the GMC that they had researched career opportunities abroad and 15 per cent said they had taken 'hard steps', such as applying for roles overseas or contacting recruiters. • BMA in new row as thousands of junior doctors cannot get NHS jobs Charlie Massey, chief executive of the GMC, said: 'Like any profession, doctors who are disillusioned with their careers will start looking elsewhere.' The report added: 'We must be alive to the ongoing risks to retention of doctors and the impact of losing talented staff. This could threaten government ambitions to reduce waiting times and deliver better care to patients.' Billy Palmer, a senior fellow at the Nuffield Trust think tank, said: 'Pay and industrial action have been a lightning rod for dissatisfaction among doctors but this survey puts a spotlight on the wider difficulties facing the medical profession. Job guarantees, better rotas and placements and protection of training time need to be on the table.' The GMC has said that the government's pledge to cut hospital waiting lists is at risk unless more is done to retain doctors. The Department of Health said: 'The findings in this report are further evidence of what we know — that after more than a decade of neglect, doctors have legitimate complaints about their conditions, including issues with training bottlenecks and career progression. 'This government is committed to improving career opportunities and working conditions, bringing in ways to recognise and reward talent — as well as freeing up clinicians' time by cutting red tape.' • 'Junior doctors are right to be unhappy with NHS' Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, held a five-day strike last month in pursuit of a 29 per cent pay rise. On Tuesday they met Wes Streeting, the health secretary, for talks described as 'constructive', at which the British Medical Association agreed no strikes would be called this month. Streeting said: 'Following a constructive meeting with BMA residents reps, we've agreed a window for negotiations without strikes in August to see if a resolution can be reached. 'Let's see if we can build a spirit of partnership to build an NHS that works for patients and staff alike.' Dr Ross Nieuwoudt and Dr Melissa Ryan, the BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs, said: 'We met with Mr Streeting to once again reiterate what is needed to bring this dispute to an end. We were very clear about the determination of resident doctors to return to a fair level of pay. 'Our conversation was informative and we feel that we have achieved a greater mutual understanding than in previous talks. We have agreed a window for negotiations, which we hope the government will use wisely.' However, they stressed that 'there has to be movement on pay' for the dispute to end.
The Guardian
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Overseas-trained doctors ‘put off UK due to cost of living and low salaries'
Doctors are choosing not to come and work in the UK because they are put off by low salaries, the high cost of living and poor quality of life. Research by the General Medical Council (GMC) shows that doctors who shun the UK are opting to move instead to the United States, Australia and Canada to earn more and have a better life. Overall, 84% of doctors trained abroad surveyed by the GMC said that other countries were better than Britain at paying good salaries and only 5% felt the opposite was true. The UK was also seen as being very poor for the cost of living and quality of life, attracting scores of minus 44 and minus 43. Among doctors considering where to further their careers, the UK scored worse than competitor countries on 14 of the 15 issues the GMC asked them about. It also recorded negative ratings for being an advanced healthcare system (minus 26), doctors being treated with respect by patients and the public (minus 20), quality of patient care (minus 17) and having enough appropriately qualified staff (minus 17). The gloomy findings for the UK came as resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors – in England were voting on whether to launch a renewed six-month campaign of strikes in pursuit of the 29% pay rise their union, the British Medical Association (BMA), claims they deserve. Consultant doctors will also take part in an indicative ballot to assess their willingness to stage walkouts over pay. Charlie Massey, the GMC's chief executive, said its findings were worrying and should spur the NHS to do more to welcome overseas-trained doctors and improve their working conditions, in order to avoid the shortages of medics which many hospitals and GP practices face. 'This research showed that issues of concern to doctors who are considering a move to the UK reflect much of what we hear from doctors who are working here now,' he said. 'It is concerning, as these factors impact on retention as well as recruitment. The UK is envied for the way it trains doctors, but there is room for improvement and we shouldn't assume that will always continue.' The NHS in England has recruited even larger numbers of doctors from elsewhere in recent years than usual. Last year 36% of all doctors there were non-UK nationals, up from 26.6% in 2016. The GMC, which regulates the medical profession in the UK, found that the UK scored highly among doctors from abroad because they find it easy to register to practise, navigate the immigration system and find a job compared with other places. Its findings are based on an online survey of 3,092 doctors in other countries. Of those, 2,556 came to the UK and joined the GMC's medical register and 536 opted to move elsewhere. The research, which probed what motivates doctors to choose which country to move to, found that some foreign doctors got disillusioned and quit the UK soon after moving there. 'Among doctors who have recently practised in the UK (since 2021) but have since left, many left sooner than they had intended to. Half of these doctors ended up practising in the UK for less than a year, when only 15% had this intention,' it said. 'Those who had left were disappointed with the UK in terms of colleagues and the friendliness of staff, adhering to different guidelines and standards, the bureaucracy and work culture/ethics.' Dr Latifa Patel, the BMA's workforce lead, said: 'The NHS is faced with a bizarre double-whammy of international medical graduates not wanting to work here due to low salaries, high cost of living, and poor quality of life, meanwhile UK trained doctors working in the NHS are feeling forced out the door to find roles in other countries where both their pay and quality of life are better.' Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has criticised the NHS for being too reliant on foreign doctors, nurses and midwives, and not hiring enough homegrown health professionals. He recently castigated as 'immoral' NHS recruitment of staff from World Health Organization-designated 'red list' countries, which are poor and have less developed health systems.
