Most ‘dissatisfied’ among UK GPs, GMC survey has found

Doctors are more likely to be ‘very dissatisfied’ practicing medicine in the UK, according to a new GMC survey of doctors moving abroad.

The survey of more than 3,000 doctors explored the reasons for doctors leaving the UK, and found that more than a third of GPs are likely to move abroad in the next 12 months.

Separate GMC data also showed that around 4,000 doctors who gave up their license to practice or left the medical register last year cited moving abroad as one of their reasons for leaving.

Overall, as part of the survey, almost a third of doctors practicing in the UK said they were likely to leave within the year, which means the country could lose around 96,000 doctors.

Based on the survey responses, the researchers divided doctors into six groups, with Doctors making up the largest proportion (26%) of the ‘most negative’ category.

Those who experience ‘most dissatisfaction’ are doctors who are ‘dissatisfied in many areas’ – with the ‘political environment’, the NHS system, and the impact of this on their wellbeing.

GMC-commissioned investigation report, completed by IFF Research, said that pay was ‘one of the most important issues raised by doctors’, and this was ‘very strong’ among those experiencing ‘high dissatisfaction’.

More than three quarters of doctors reported feeling ‘professionally undervalued’ which reflected their concerns about pay.

The report urged the Government to work on retention strategies that focus on ‘the UK’s working environment and competitive position’.

While GPs made up the largest proportion of the most negative group, they also made up the largest proportion (30%) of those who are ‘open to opportunity’ and feel the UK system has served them well.

The report recommended targeting the top three, most negative categories as a priority, as they account for more than half of all practicing doctors in the UK and this would have a ‘significant potential for significant impact on the workforce’.

The GMC wanted to restrict this data to evidence that there is often a ‘gap between intention and action’.

Chief executive Charlie Massey said the report’s findings were a ‘stark reminder’ of the challenges facing Britain’s health systems.

“Although the number of doctors who left to practice abroad in 2023 was very small, this result is a warning to all if the situation fails to improve,” he said.

Mr Massey added: ‘It is much easier to stop someone leaving by acting on concerns, than to persuade them to return.

‘There are no easy fixes, but these results highlight the urgency with which we must act. We must work together as a system to make the right changes so that the talented professionals who keep our nation going feel supported to continue working in the UK.’

BMA representative board chair and labor leader Dr Latifa Patel said the figures were ‘very worrying’.

He added: “That many doctors say they are looking to go overseas is not surprising, given the enormous pressure on health workers in an overstretched service struggling with severe staff shortages.

“While the current policy focus appears to be primarily on recruiting more physicians, it is clear that there is a pressing need to stem the flow of physicians leaving health care early.”

RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne said the entire health service was facing ‘serious retention issues’, and general practice had been ‘severely affected’.

He said: “We are seeing good doctors looking to work abroad or leave the profession altogether: a recent survey from the RCGP found that 37% of psychiatrists already thought it was unlikely they would be practicing in general in the next five years. .

‘This confirms GMC research published today that thousands of doctors are considering leaving UK practice and needs to be taken very seriously by the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care. Urgent measures to promote and encourage the retention of our Doctors are needed, and they are needed now.’

A major Pulse survey last year looked at workforce issues in general, revealing the reasons why GPs are looking to move abroad, cut hours or take other paths out of the profession.

Last year, the Prime Minister claimed that doctors leaving the NHS in Australia were ‘not as widespread’ as people think, and therefore forced mergers were not necessary.

But GMC chief Mr Massey previously warned that Britain must stop ‘haemorrhaging’ GPs, who are ‘voting with their feet’ to work abroad.

A survey by the regulator in 2022 found that, while many doctors were facing burnout, there were specific issues in primary care that were driving doctors to leave.

A recent BMA survey found that around 73% of GP students experience burnout and stress as a ‘direct result’ of their clinical work.