NHS Scotland: Health service facing 'mass exodus' of doctors

NHS Scotland is facing a “mass exodus” of “underappreciated, undervalued and demoralised” doctors, top medics have said, after a new survey revealed one in five junior doctors are struggling to afford housing.

A snap survey of British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland junior doctors revealed nearly half (44 per cent) have actively researched leaving the NHS in the past 12 months due to pay and conditions in Scotland. Only 15 per cent of the 730 respondents said they were sure they would stay in the UK and work in the NHS long term.

Dr Chris Smith, chair of the BMA’s Scottish junior doctor committee, said: “These figures should be extremely worrying for all those who rely on our NHS and it is clear that junior doctors, which make up a large and crucial part of the workforce in Scotland, have simply had enough.

“Years of below inflation pay ‘uplifts’ coupled with rising costs of living have left junior doctors feeling underappreciated, undervalued and demoralised. Our survey results show us that more than four in ten doctors are actively researching leaving our NHS, which would leave massive gaps in an already stretched workforce and seriously threaten quality of care.

A snap survey of BMA Scotland junior doctors revealed nearly half (44 per cent) have actively researched leaving the NHS in the last 12 months. Picture by Getty

“The health service is already on its knees – it simply cannot afford to lose any more valuable members of staff, but this is where we are now. We risk a mass exodus of junior doctors in Scotland if the Scottish Government does not take immediate action.”

More than half (56 per cent) of the junior doctors surveyed said they had already worked extra paid overtime or taken on additional shifts to meet their financial needs in the past 12 months, while almost 80 per cent expect to have to take on a second job in the coming year. One fifth (19 per cent) have experienced difficulties paying their rent or mortgage at some point in the past 12 months.

The BMA in Scotland is set to open a ballot on March 29 of junior doctors on strike action over the Government’s approach to pay.

Dr Smith said: “Junior doctors in Scotland are ready to stand up and be counted. Our pay has been eroded over the last 15 years and we are not worth 23.5 per cent less than our counterparts in 2008 – we do not carry out 23.5 per cent less work.”

Health secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I recognise the importance of junior doctors to NHS Scotland and the important work they contribute to the NHS. I wrote to the chair of the BMA on February 21 to offer to meet with him and Dr Smith.

“Junior doctors in Scotland have already been awarded a 4.5 per cent pay uplift for 2022/23 recommended by the independent Doctors and Dentist Pay Review Body. I am disappointed BMA Scotland is planning to ballot junior doctors on industrial action, which would be in no one’s interests.”

Mr Yousaf added: “I have been very open about the real fiscal challenges we face, have explored all options for 2022/23 and there’s no additional money for pay without cutting funding to the NHS and other public services.”

Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane said the survey findings were “utterly damning for the SNP Government”. He said his colleagues on the frontline were “burnt out and beyond breaking point”.

“The failures of successive health secretaries, including current incumbent Humza Yousaf, mean that hundreds of doctors are seeking a route out of Scotland’s NHS. My colleagues on the frontline are burnt out and beyond breaking point. They have been let down by Humza Yousaf who has been missing in action and his flimsy recovery plan has completely failed to remobilise critical frontline services.

“Dedicated junior doctors continue to support patients as best as possible, but they are doing so without the necessary support from the SNP Government. Their dire workforce planning has already left our health service short of thousands of frontline staff and now more are potentially on the brink of leaving.”

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “This blistering intervention from the BMA lays bare the bitter results of the SNP’s failure to support junior doctors. At a time when our NHS is in crisis and all hands are needed on deck, we are witnessing a mass exodus of junior doctors.

“The blame for this lies squarely with this failing SNP Government and this failed health secretary. It is simply galling that Humza Yousaf feels himself remotely qualified to be first minister after leaving our NHS in such turmoil.”