Scotland attracting new junior doctors

Doctor - credit Fotolia

Junior doctors are increasingly picking Scotland as their place of training in the wake of “damaging uncertainty” with their contract in England, latest figures show.

An increasing number of students across the UK picking Scotland as their first choice has led to a 27 per cent increase in the number of foundation-level doctors applying to train in the NHS north of the border.

Almost all core training programmes have achieved a 100 per cent fill rate for the coming academic year.

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Doctor’s union the BMA suggest this is a direct result of the imposition of a contract by the UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, and subsequent reassurances by the Scottish Government.

Data from NHS Education Scotland shows that at core training level - doctors who have been graduated for up to two years - there was a 13 per cent increase in posts advertised but only a 7 per cent rise in numbers recruited.

However at higher specialty training level - doctors who have been graduated for four to five years - there was an 11 per cent increase in advertised posts and an 18 per cent rise in numbers recruited.

Chair of BMA Scotland's Junior Doctor Committee Dr Chris Sheridan said: “This increase in the fill rates for training grades in Scotland may suggest that the damaging uncertainty over junior doctor contracts in England has helped to make Scotland a comparatively more attractive option than working in England for some junior doctors and medical graduates.”

Health Secretary Shona Robison said challenges remained recruiting GPs and mental health specialists.

“That is why we are taking forward a range of actions focussed on attracting trainees into these specialties and to ensure that the training they receive is of the highest quality.

“A key aspect of our work is to better understand the views and needs of junior doctors, with the aim of developing more flexible and attractive training opportunities,” she said.