Staff Shortages, Burnout, and Poor Conditions Push NHS workers abroad in record numbers. Reports Hasil Farooq
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is facing a severe workforce crisis, with thousands of doctors and nurses leaving the country in search of better pay, improved working conditions, and a healthier work-life balance. Many are heading to the Middle East, Australia, and Canada, citing staff shortages, low morale, and burnout as key reasons for their departure.
Media reports reveal that seventy nurses and midwives leave the NHS every day, with at least one person a day heading to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or Qatar. A 2024 General Medical Council (GMC) survey further suggests that 30% of NHS doctors plan to leave the UK within the next year.
Dr. Ramesh Mehta, OBE, Senior NHS Consultant and President of the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO), is deeply concerned about these numbers. “The UK had one of the best healthcare systems in the world,” Mehta said. “People used to envy our NHS, but now it is collapsing under mismanagement and lack of investment.”
“It is deeply concerning,” Mehta continued. “The NHS is not doing enough to retain its workforce. Doctors are not just frustrated; they are exhausted.”
A report by the Centre for Social Justice highlights that an increasing number of young doctors feel disconnected from the system, with many struggling to secure permanent roles. Mehta pointed out that junior doctors are waiting months, if not years, to get stable jobs, adding to their frustration. “How do you expect a young doctor to stay in a system where they are not given opportunities to grow?” he asked.
Another issue Mehta raised is the misallocation of NHS funds. “There is a huge amount of waste in the system,” Mehta said. “Unnecessary tests, inefficient use of resources, these are areas where funding could be better spent.” Despite chronic staff shortages, the NHS spent £3 billion on temporary locum doctors and agency nurses in 2023, instead of investing in permanent hires. Meanwhile, executive salaries continue to rise, while overworked healthcare professionals are left struggling with limited resources and excessive workloads.
For Professor JS Bamrah CBE, past Chair of BAPIO and Senior NHS Consultant Psychiatrist, these figures reflect a growing problem. “We are losing our best doctors,” he said. “Many of these professionals have spent years studying and training in the UK, and yet they feel compelled to leave because the NHS does not value them.”
Bamrah emphasises that financial incentives alone are not the driving force behind this exodus. Instead, the primary issue is work-life balance and the mental health toll of an overstretched system. “Doctors are under immense pressure. They are expected to work long hours with little support, and this is pushing them to the breaking point,” he warned. “The NHS must start listening to doctors before it’s too late.”
Data from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) supports these concerns, showing that a record 25,527 UK nurses applied for a Certificate of Current Professional Status (CCPS) in 2024, a 580% increase since 2019. This certification is required to practice nursing abroad, highlighting the worsening retention problem within the NHS.
Even for those who remain in the NHS, the pressure is becoming unbearable. Mehta pointed out that NHS doctors are seeing more patients per shift than ever before, leading to compromised patient care. “The reality is that patients are not getting the right treatment at the right time,” he said. “That is what truly worries me.”
The UK government insists that a new plan is in place to encourage NHS staff to stay. BAPIO is sceptical about whether these measures will be enough. “We have contacted the Department of Health, offering our concerns and support,” Mehta said. “We want to be part of the solution, but we need the government to listen.” He added that BAPIO has been vocal about the urgent need for NHS reform, and the organisation has reached out to the Department of Health, urging policymakers to take immediate action to prevent further staff shortages. “We are ready to fight for the NHS,” Dr. Mehta declared, highlighting BAPIO’s commitment to protecting both healthcare workers and patient care.
Both Bamrah and Mehta warn that if urgent reforms are not introduced, the NHS could face a full-blown crisis in the coming years. “This is not just about losing staff,” Bamrah stressed. “This is about the survival of the NHS itself.”
