The General Medical Council (GMC) has published new research into the factors that determine whether overseas-qualified doctors choose to pursue their careers in the UK or go elsewhere.
With doctors known to be a highly mobile workforce, the independent research, Understanding doctors’ decision-making regarding migrating to the UK, set out to better understand where the country sits within the global market for their skills.
The research is the latest in a series of work commissioned by the GMC to understand the motivations of doctors who move to, and emigrate from, the UK*. It found that learning and development, career progression, working with appropriately qualified staff, a healthcare system where patients receive sufficient care, and quality of life were the most important factors for those relocating to the UK.
Charlie Massey, Chief Executive of the GMC 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."
More than 3,000 doctors took part in the study, conducted between June and August 2024, including a number who had considered a move to the UK but ultimately decided not to. Of those who chose, or were considering, UK practice, a third (33%) were looking for a permanent move, while more than a fifth (21%) planned to stay for less than five years.
Those surveyed who did not move to the UK cited challenging requirements, changed circumstances, or preferring another country as the most common reasons. In their report, researchers identified six distinct groups of doctors considering a move to the UK based on their attitudes and expectations.
- Short-term hoppers – Highly mobile, likely to leave the UK within a year of moving here. They place more importance on speaking the local language than on other factors.
- Sceptical considerers – With lower expectations of the UK, this group places greater relative importance on moving somewhere they have strong personal or family ties but work-related benefits and cost of living also matter.
- Family-focused professionals – This group prioritises opportunities for family, and existing personal and professional ties when choosing a country. Salary and benefits are less important.
- Young pragmatists – The youngest segment, ease of moving and settling in (including speaking the language) is key for this group of doctors along with career progression opportunities.
- Ambitious expecters – Highest expectations of the UK, with an ambitious outlook. They expect the UK to improve their remuneration and working conditions.
- Modern system seekers – Place the most importance on working in an advanced healthcare system with high standards of care, where their development and working environment will improve.
Those in the ‘young pragmatists’, ‘ambitious expecters’ and ‘modern system seekers’ groups were on average more likely to remain in the UK longer-term, were generally younger and tended to have greater expectations for the country.
However, across all survey respondents only half of those who moved to the UK said their expectations were met once here. Those who said they weren’t cited heavy workloads, poor work-life balance and stress as the main reasons.
Read the full research, Understanding doctors' decision-making regarding migrating to the UK - GMC.
