The Earl of Munsterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are their policies to reduce the present tendency for early retirement among consultants and the emigration of junior doctors. [HL4471]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThere is no evidence to suggest that doctors are retiring earlier than in other professions. The most recent research about doctors working abroad indicates that less than 8.5 per cent. of doctors qualifying in United Kingdom medical schools leave to work abroad at the end of their pre-registration training. Almost the same proportion (7.5 per cent.) of students in UK medical schools are overseas students, many of whom are obliged to return to their own country on completion of their training.
For England and Wales, we collect information from professional bodies, including the Medical Royal Colleges and the Medical Practices Committee, about wastage and retirements. The Specialty Workforce Advisory Group takes account of these factors in advising the Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales about the numbers of higher specialist trainees needed to meet future assumed demand for consultants and general practitioners.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the appropriate advisory bodies take these factors into account in a similar way.