The proportion of the medical workforce leaving the NHS has hardly changed for a decade, while figures on those seeking a move overseas do not, overall, show a clear upwards trend.
There are, however, some worrying signs - with increasing numbers of junior doctors taking a break in their training, and some evidence that aggressive marketing by authorities in Australia on social media and billboards is turning the heads of more UK medics.
But figures from NHS Digital in England show over the past decade the proportion leaving overall has remained pretty constant at about 14-15%.
They could be spending time working as a locum - taking well-paid but ad-hoc freelance shifts to cover gaps in rotas - going travelling or seeking opportunities abroad.
More recent figures for 2023 so far suggest the number will be higher again - although it is unclear if this reflects a long-term rise, as the trend seen over the last 18 months may just be a natural catch-up following the dip during the pandemic.
New Zealand has the most up-to-date figures, which show about 500 doctors a year trained in the UK and Ireland left to work there before the pandemic.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The proportion of the medical workforce leaving the NHS has hardly changed for a decade, while figures on those seeking a move overseas do not, overall, show a clear upwards trend.
There are, however, some worrying signs - with increasing numbers of junior doctors taking a break in their training, and some evidence that aggressive marketing by authorities in Australia on social media and billboards is turning the heads of more UK medics.
But figures from NHS Digital in England show over the past decade the proportion leaving overall has remained pretty constant at about 14-15%.
They could be spending time working as a locum - taking well-paid but ad-hoc freelance shifts to cover gaps in rotas - going travelling or seeking opportunities abroad.
More recent figures for 2023 so far suggest the number will be higher again - although it is unclear if this reflects a long-term rise, as the trend seen over the last 18 months may just be a natural catch-up following the dip during the pandemic.
New Zealand has the most up-to-date figures, which show about 500 doctors a year trained in the UK and Ireland left to work there before the pandemic.
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