The General Medical Council (GMC) has raised concerns about doctors’ career progression and wellbeing following the publication of its latest survey on workplace experiences. Released on 7 August 2025, the report reveals that one in three doctors feel unable to advance their education, training, and careers in the way they want—marking a significant barrier to professional satisfaction and retention.
This is the first time the GMC has explored career progression in its annual survey, and the findings show a strong correlation between doctors’ sense of control over their careers and their overall wellbeing. Among those who felt able to progress, 81 percent reported satisfaction and 59 percent were at very low risk of burnout. In contrast, only 33 percent of those who felt unable to progress were satisfied, and just 18 percent were at low risk of burnout.
While the report shows marginal improvements in wellbeing, workloads, and satisfaction for the second consecutive year across the UK, it also highlights persistent challenges in general practice, training structures, and disparities in doctors’ experiences. The GMC is urging healthcare systems to build on current progress and address these issues with urgency.
The report outlines five key calls to action:
- Governments and employers must ensure working environments support safe, high-quality care.
- General practice must be made more attractive, with additional support for GPs.
- Training systems need reform to secure a sustainable supply of doctors and educators.
- Greater support is needed for trainers, educators, and doctors in training to protect time for supervision and development.
- Disparities in experiences among different groups of doctors must be addressed.
Charlie Massey, Chief Executive of the GMC, said:
‘Like any profession, doctors who are disillusioned with their careers will start looking elsewhere. Doctors need to be satisfied, supported, and see a hopeful future for themselves, or we may risk losing their talent and expertise altogether.
‘Achieving this requires modernising the current training system, so it meets the needs of doctors and patients. This is something that requires a concerted effort from the whole healthcare system to drive real change. Efforts need to go further than they have previously, so I’m pleased to see these priorities reflected in the ambitions of the 10-year Health Plan for NHS England, as well as in equivalent strategies across Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.’
Mr Massey added:
‘Improving the experiences of doctors and their environments correlates with enhanced patient care. It is encouraging to see marginal improvements in wellbeing, but this progress must be nurtured.
‘The health system needs to capitalise on this momentum to drive continued improvements, and our unique data and insights can support workforce planners in achieving this. We are ready to play our part to help shape a future unlocking the potential of doctors, to the benefit of patients.’
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