The state of medical education and practice in the UK: the workforce report

Overview

This chapter summarises the report’s key findings. 

Our data shows that the UK’s medical register continues to grow, with many overseas doctors joining our workforce. However, our health services must prioritise strategies to retain UK and non-UK trained doctors, and develop supportive workplace cultures with compassionate leaders.

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The changing workforce

In this chapter, we explore the demographics of the UK’s medical workforce. This includes our data on:

• where doctors gained their primary medical qualification
• the geographical distribution of doctors across the UK 
• gender balance. 

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The supply of UK trained doctors

In this chapter, we look at the growing number of doctors training in general practice and other specialties experiencing shortages. We also analyse where doctors are working after they graduate medical school in the UK.

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The experience of a workforce under pressure

This chapter includes results of a new survey we commissioned to better understand doctors’ job satisfaction, their work environment and career intentions.

Those surveyed found their roles rewarding, but said they continued to face high pressures. A large proportion reported that they’d reduced their hours over the last year or were planning to do so within the next 12 months.

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Focus on doctors leaving the profession

Understanding which doctors leave, and why they leave, helps to develop strategies to retain the UK’s medical workforce. This chapter analyses which groups of doctors left the profession between 1997 and 2018, including permanent leavers and those who later returned.

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Conclusions

In this chapter, we explain how we’re helping to support the sustainability of the medical workforce, in partnership with employers, regulators and healthcare organisations. This includes making routes onto the register as simple as possible, as well as delivering our programme of work  to develop supportive, inclusive and compassionate workplaces.

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Data tables

Reference tables about doctors in training – spreadsheet

Reference tables about doctors in training

Reference tables about the register of medical practitioners by country and region – spreadsheet

Reference tables about the register of medical practitioners by country and region

Reference tables about the register of medical practitioners – spreadsheet

Reference tables about the register of medical practitioners

Reference tables about doctors who leave or take a break – spreadsheet