NHS ‘faces disaster’ as four in ten European doctors think of leaving

FOUR in 10 European doctors are considering leaving Britain following the Brexit vote, research suggests.

The figure comes from a British Medical Association (BMA) survey, which found that 42% are thinking of quitting the UK, with a further quarter (23%) still unsure.

The BMA warned it could spell “disaster” as the NHS was already facing “crippling staff shortages”.

About 10,000 doctors who work in the NHS – 6.6% of the UK medical workforce – qualified in Europe.

The doctors’ union polled 1,193 doctors from the European Economic Area (EEA) who are working in the UK.

It found that they felt “less committed” to working in the UK following the referendum.

They also felt less appreciated by the Government following the result.

The BMA said that recruiting from Europe had been vital in dealing with staff shortages in the health service.

Dr Mark Porter, chairman of council at the BMA, said: “While thousands of overseas and EU doctors work across the UK to provide the best possible care for patients, many from the EU are left feeling unwelcome and uncertain about whether they and their families will have the right to live and work in the UK after Brexit.

“These are the people who staff our hospitals and GP surgeries, look after vulnerable patients in the community and conduct vital medical research to help save lives.

“Many have dedicated years of service to healthcare in the UK, so it’s extremely concerning that so many are considering leaving.

“At a time when the NHS is already at breaking point and facing crippling staff shortages, this would be a disaster and threaten the delivery of high-quality patient care.

“But this isn’t just about numbers. The quality of patient care is improved where doctors have diverse experiences and expertise.

“The government must act now to ensure long-term stability across the healthcare system by providing certainty to medical professionals from the EU about their future in the UK.

“It must also ensure that a future immigration system allows the NHS to continue employing EU and overseas doctors to fill staff shortages in the health service.”

West Sussex GP Dr Birgit Woolley, originally from Germany, has worked in the UK for two decades.

“Since the result of the EU referendum I feel increasingly uncertain about my future here, and am considering returning to Germany,” she said.

“It is unsettling that in a country that I have contributed to for 20 years and consider home, I am now seen as a foreigner and have to prove that I deserve to live and work here.

“I feel supported by my patients, with even those that voted leave telling me, ‘You can stay because you’re a doctor. We like you. We didn’t mean you.’

“But the reality is that the government does not appreciate what EU nationals like me have contributed to the UK and only sees us as bargaining chips.”

Latest figures from NHS Digital workforce statistics, from September last year, show that 59,796 NHS staff in England come from the European Union, including 10,267 doctors.