UK at Risk of Losing International Doctors as Workforce Exodus Grows, Regulator Warns
Almost five thousand non-UK qualified doctors left the UK in 2024, raising alarms over healthcare staffing amid policy shifts favouring UK-trained medics
International medical graduates are leaving the UK health service in increasing numbers, prompting a warning from the medical regulator that the system faces a significant talent drain.
The General Medical Council (GMC) reports that in 2024 nearly 4,880 doctors who qualified abroad left UK practice — a rise of more than 25 per cent on the previous year’s total.
At the same time, the number of international doctors entering the UK register continued to grow, but the rate of increase is slowing.
In 2024 some 20,060 non-UK qualified doctors joined the UK register, compared with 19,629 in 2023. Though still substantial, the regulator noted that the pace of growth has tapered after prior steep year-on-year gains.
The discrepancy between rising departures and more modest joiner growth raises concerns about workforce stability.
The regulator highlighted that only 13 per cent of doctors who passed the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) exam in 2024 obtained a job within six months, down from 26 per cent in earlier years — suggesting fewer immediate opportunities for newly qualified international doctors.
The GMC cautioned that the UK’s plan to prioritise UK-trained graduates for postgraduate medical training could undermine the attractiveness of the country for international talent.
Chief Executive Charlie Massey warned that any “hardening of rhetoric” could damage the UK’s reputation as a destination for skilled doctors — and that a relatively small percentage increase in departures by a workforce where 42 per cent of NHS doctors qualified abroad could leave substantial gaps.
Commentators and workforce leaders say the situation amplifies the need for policies to address retention, structured training opportunities and support for internationally trained doctors.
The regulator’s latest reports draw attention to the risk that talented clinicians may choose alternative destinations if career progression and integration are perceived to be limited.
With the UK heavily reliant on non-UK qualified doctors to sustain its healthcare workforce, the trend could exacerbate staffing pressures and limit service resilience.
The regulator insists that at the heart of any workforce strategy must be an environment that welcomes, values and supports global talent — or the system may face profound consequences for patient care and system capacity.
The General Medical Council (GMC) reports that in 2024 nearly 4,880 doctors who qualified abroad left UK practice — a rise of more than 25 per cent on the previous year’s total.
At the same time, the number of international doctors entering the UK register continued to grow, but the rate of increase is slowing.
In 2024 some 20,060 non-UK qualified doctors joined the UK register, compared with 19,629 in 2023. Though still substantial, the regulator noted that the pace of growth has tapered after prior steep year-on-year gains.
The discrepancy between rising departures and more modest joiner growth raises concerns about workforce stability.
The regulator highlighted that only 13 per cent of doctors who passed the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) exam in 2024 obtained a job within six months, down from 26 per cent in earlier years — suggesting fewer immediate opportunities for newly qualified international doctors.
The GMC cautioned that the UK’s plan to prioritise UK-trained graduates for postgraduate medical training could undermine the attractiveness of the country for international talent.
Chief Executive Charlie Massey warned that any “hardening of rhetoric” could damage the UK’s reputation as a destination for skilled doctors — and that a relatively small percentage increase in departures by a workforce where 42 per cent of NHS doctors qualified abroad could leave substantial gaps.
Commentators and workforce leaders say the situation amplifies the need for policies to address retention, structured training opportunities and support for internationally trained doctors.
The regulator’s latest reports draw attention to the risk that talented clinicians may choose alternative destinations if career progression and integration are perceived to be limited.
With the UK heavily reliant on non-UK qualified doctors to sustain its healthcare workforce, the trend could exacerbate staffing pressures and limit service resilience.
The regulator insists that at the heart of any workforce strategy must be an environment that welcomes, values and supports global talent — or the system may face profound consequences for patient care and system capacity.
