NHS warned it can no longer assume internationally trained doctors will stay in the UK

The NHS can no longer rely on internationally trained doctors choosing to remain in the UK, the General Medical Council (GMC) has warned, as new data shows a sharp rise in overseas medics leaving the country.

Speaking at NHS ConfedExpo in Manchester, GMC Chief Executive Charlie Massey said the health service must give “active and conscious consideration” to improving induction, inclusion and long‑term support for international doctors if it is to retain the workforce it depends on.

Internationally qualified doctors now make up 42% of the UK medical register, and in recent years two‑thirds of new joiners were trained overseas. But the GMC’s latest workforce report shows a 26% increase in non‑UK qualified doctors leaving the UK. Growth in new international joiners has also slowed dramatically—from more than 60% to just 2%—while demand for the GMC’s PLAB exam has fallen.

Massey said global competition for medical talent is intensifying, and factors such as fairness, belonging and career progression increasingly influence where doctors choose to work. He highlighted that SAS (specialty, associate specialist and specialist) and locally employed (LE) doctors—many of whom are internationally trained—continue to report inconsistent access to support and development.

“The NHS is reliant on internationally qualified doctors, yet the pipeline and retention are showing increasing fragility,” he said. “We must do more to actively support and advocate for these doctors throughout their careers, with fair, consistent access to learning, development and progression, especially for those outside formal training pathways.”

The GMC urged NHS leaders to treat the needs of international doctors as central to workforce planning, warning that assumptions about long‑term retention can no longer be taken for granted.

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