Our reaction to announcement of increased UK training posts for doctors

Nigel Edwards comments on Jeremy Hunt's announcement to increase the numbers of UK trained doctors.

Press release

Published: 04/10/2016

Commenting on Jeremy Hunt's announcement to increase the numbers of UK trained doctors, Nuffield Trust Chief Executive Nigel Edwards said:

The success of this approach will largely depend on how well the NHS is able to ensure that, having trained these extra doctors, they are attracted to work in areas of greatest need, such as working as GPs and in rural areas. 
Nigel Edwards, Nuffield Trust Chief Executive


"For decades, the NHS has failed to train enough of its own staff, so increasing the number of UK-trained medical staff is long overdue, despite the huge contribution made by overseas doctors which must continue to be recognised.   However, if this new announcement involves simply replacing overseas doctors with UK-trained ones, that won't increase the total number working in the NHS, and certainly won't solve the agency staff crisis that is affecting the NHS right now.

"Furthermore, the success of this approach will largely depend on how well the NHS is able to ensure that, having trained these extra doctors, they are attracted to work in areas of greatest need, such as working as GPs and in rural areas”.

Notes to editors

For more information, please contact Katherine Jarman or Kirsty Ridyard in the Nuffield Trust press office, on 020 7462 0555 / 0552.

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