Only half of overseas doctors who moved to the UK say their expectations have been met
Only half of doctors who qualified overseas and moved to the UK said that their expectations had been met, according to new research published by the GMC.
Those unsatisfied with the move blamed heavy workload, stress and a poor work-life balance.
The research, commissioned by the GMC, surveyed over 3,000 doctors between June and August 2024 who had either moved, or considered moving, to the UK for their career.
A third (33%) of doctors considering UK practice were looking for a permanent move; and just over one in five (21%) planned to stay for less than five years.
The Understanding doctors’ decision-making regarding migrating to the UK report concluded that the most important factors for doctors relocating to the UK included:
- Learning and development;
- Career progression;
- Working with appropriately-qualified staff;
- A healthcare system where patients received sufficient care;
- Quality of life.
Researchers identified six distinct groups of overseas doctors considering relocation to the UK based on their attitudes and expectations.
GPs were said to mostly belong in the ‘sceptical considerers’ group; defined as having ‘lower expectations of the UK’ but valuing the importance of going somewhere with strong personal or family connections, while also weighing up work-related benefits and quality of life.
- Around three in five expected to do a UK postgraduate training programme (63%) or to obtain UK postgraduate/Royal College qualifications (60%).
- 16% of surveyed doctors expected to join the GP register upon moving to the UK.
- Just over half (52%) of surveyed doctors expected to earn more in the UK than in their country of origin.
GMC chief executive Charlie Massey said: ‘Doctors are a highly mobile, as well as highly skilled, workforce and those from overseas make a hugely valuable contribution to our health services.
‘While the UK remains an appealing destination for many, this report reinforces the need to address long-standing concerns we hear from all doctors.
‘Opportunities to learn and develop are important, whether it’s for doctors who qualified here in the UK or abroad. Collectively better meeting the expectations of all doctors is essential in attracting and, just as importantly, retaining their talent.’
Next week, BMA leaders will vote on whether UK medical school graduates should be ‘prioritised’ ahead of international graduates (IMGs) for foundation programme posts at the union’s annual representative meeting.
At last month’s LMC UK conference, GP leaders criticised BMA resident doctors for supporting a ‘protectionist policy’ around specialty places, as it could disadvantage IMGs.
READERS' COMMENTS [4]
Please note, only GPs are permitted to add comments to articles
Were the expectations of the other half exceeded?
What proportion of respondents were graduates of British Medical Schools?
and how many had completed VTS in Britain? (or partly in Britain, and qualified here).
The salary stats suggest that Doctors are not coming here to ‘steal our jobs’, but primarily for either experience and qualifications or family reasons – some of precisely the same reasons that British Graduates move abroad?
I was born here and my expectations haven’t been met either who do I complain to?
I don’t get why the GMC identified this as a “research” topic ie the reasoning behind it and to what purpose. I would have thought the GMC itself was a major reason for the dissatisfaction of many of the respondents.
And Massey’s quoted concluding remarks are the usual meaningless drivel.
‘half of doctors who qualified overseas and moved to UK’. ‘Those surveyed had either moved, or considered moving, to the UK’. Has the research been compared to results of overseas graduates in other professions or occupations who migrated to Britain, to give a like for like comparison between June and August 2024? Perhaps those would have fared not so well, or just as well; maybe those would be discovered to have done much better than a cohort of immigrant doctors but somehow perhaps not, which would probably not be surprising to many. Life is sometimes what you make it, in any career or profession.