A new BMA survey shows that 56% of GPs want more NHS work but can’t find it, 15% report no available GP roles, and 70% of resident doctors in Scotland fear joblessness from August 2025
A recent survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) exposes a concerning rise in unemployment and underemployment among doctors across the UK, particularly among general practitioners and trainee doctors. Despite high demand for healthcare services, many qualified doctors face difficulty securing NHS positions, underscoring systemic challenges in workforce planning and funding.
No jobs for foundation year 2 doctors
The survey, sent to 4,401 doctors, asked whether they have substantive employment or regular locum work from next month. Of the 1,062 foundation year 2 doctors who responded, 52% said they did not. Overall, a third (34%) of all doctors who responded did not.
The results have forced the BMA to seek a deal with the UK Government to tackle the unemployment crisis. The BMA is demanding increased funding for NHS positions and a comprehensive workforce planning strategy. This follows data that shows that over 30,000 doctors applied for just 10,000 speciality training places.
Strike action continues across England
These concerning survey results occurred during the five-day strike action by resident doctors, due to eroding pay. The BMA resident doctors committee is now headed for a ballot of new FY1 doctors, likely to be among the most affected by the bottlenecks issue, to commit formally to fighting for pay and training.
RDC co-chairs Ross Nieuwoudt and Melissa Ryan said: “Throughout this dispute, ballot and industrial action, one thing we have heard from our colleagues is the genuine fear and real worry about being able to secure a job in the future. Today’s survey results show these fears realised.
“It’s absurd that in a country where the Government says bringing down NHS waiting lists is one of its top priorities, not only is it not prepared to restore doctors’ pay, but it also won’t provide jobs for doctors ready, willing and capable to progress in their careers.
“With more than six million patients on waiting lists in England, it’s maddening that a third of resident doctors say they cannot get a job. Across the NHS, this means potentially thousands of UK doctors are left in employment limbo when patients desperately need their care.
“Commitments from the Government to address this don’t go far enough or are too vague to convince us that they understand the gravity of the situation, so we’re making clear that, alongside pay, we are entering a dispute and demanding action so that no UK-trained, capable doctor is left underemployed in the NHS.”
