Identifying groups of migrating doctors

Published 12 April 2024

Why did we commission this research?

In recent years we’ve undertaken work to understand the nature and drivers of international migration trends that shape the UK medical workforce.

This research builds on previous studies and uses quantitative analysis to help us identify different groups of doctors. These are based on their attitudes and experiences towards work as a doctor in the UK. It also explores reasons for leaving the UK and migration intentions.

By understanding more about the reasons why some doctors choose to leave the UK to practise abroad, we can develop effective strategies to improve workplace experiences and increase retention.

What did the research involve?

The research involved an online survey of 3,154 doctors.

  • 1,549 were currently practising in the UK 
  • 1,156 had left the UK to practice medicine in another country 
  • 449 had left the UK and since returned to UK practice. 

The survey covered how satisfied doctors felt day-to-day, and any reasons why they had left the UK or why they were considering leaving, where relevant. 

The research included a segmentation analysis which split doctors into distinct groups based on their shared attitudes and experiences.

What are the key findings?

The research identified six groups:

  • Deep discontent: the most negative and most likely to say they will leave in the next year. These are doctors who are dissatisfied on multiple fronts with the political environment, UK healthcare systems and its effects on their wellbeing.
  • System sceptics: concerned about the direction of the health systems and dissatisfied with their own working conditions, these doctors feel undervalued and unsupported. Most likely to be attracted to English speaking countries where they feel there are better conditions.
  • Burnt-out: working in the UK has left this group exhausted and unsatisfied with a low level of personal wellbeing and work-life balance.
  • Mobile career developers: neutral about working in the UK but obstacles to career progression could tempt this group to leave. A high proportion qualified overseas.
  • Open to opportunity: a relatively happy group of doctors, who may consider working abroad for a new challenge. 
  • Happy in the UK: the most positive, this group has a high proportion of doctors who qualified overseas and who are happy working in the UK but may return to their home country at some point due to those connections.

Of those practising in the UK who weren’t returners, when asked how likely they were to move abroad to practise medicine in the next 12 months, 13% said ‘very likely’.  A further 17% said they were ‘fairly likely’: 30% in total. Previous research we’ve conducted shows there’s a gap between intention and action however, with the number of doctors who actually leave to practise abroad being lower.

The research explores the main reasons which make doctors consider leaving. It suggests that improving the UK’s competitive position in four areas would be particularly effective in retaining doctors: workplace conditions, pay, career development opportunities and perceptions of the UK’s healthcare systems. 

Download the report – Identifying groups of migrating doctors research