The missing medical students [print version]
In 2023, the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan set a goal of doubling the number of medical school places to 15,000 by 2031-32.
Doctors
Doctors
The missing medical students
23 February 2026
Despite earlier promises, it looks like the Labour government no longer plans to double the number of medical school places by 2032.
Overseas doctor programme scrapped
16 January 2026
A Birmingham hospital trust has been forced to scrap a poorly regulated international fellowship programme. The scheme recruited doctors from Pakistan, apparently so they could return there after training, but most did not.
Doctors fighting for a future
31 October 2025
Doctors will be on strike for 6 days in November over unemployment and lack of training opportunities, unless the government resumes talks in good faith. The BMA ballot result showed strong support for the action.
Doctors fighting for a future [print version]
Foundation year 1 doctor members of the British Medical Association (BMA) have voted by a huge margin to strike over unemployment and lack of training opportunities
Resident doctors prepare to strike again
14 July 2025
Doctors in training are once again taking strike action in pursuit of restoring their pay to former levels. They will need a flexible approach as they cannot rely on the continuing support from the public and colleagues.
Train British doctors
23 April 2025
British doctors have launched a campaign to give British medical graduates priority when applying for speciality training. Applications from international graduates for the limited number of posts have increased.
Migrating doctors
25 February 2025
The negative impact of migration is a topic that seemingly can’t be discussed. Yet there’s a pressing need to do so, not least in relation to doctors and healthcare workers.
Doctors progress with focus on pay
10 July 2024
Doctors have kept their focus on pay, making significant progress. They have not been diverted by the change of government; settlement for junior hospital doctors in England is a priority.
Junior doctors to strike before election
30 May 2024
The junior doctors’ long-running pay dispute is still not resolved. In the absence of a credible offer they are returning to strike action ahead of the general election.
Doctors in Wales strike for pay
27 March 2024
Pay for doctors in Wales is not resolved. They are striking again against the derisory offer from the devolved government, not accepting its plea that is all it can afford.
Longer waits for GPs – we need more doctors
10 March 2024
It is harder than ever to get an appointment with a GP within a reasonable time. One reason is that we are short of doctors, but the government is doing nothing effective about that.
Pay progress for some doctors
NHS hospital consultants have secured an offer from the government in their fight for pay. Consultants’ pay had been cut, in real terms, by 35 per cent since 2008-09. Meanwhile, junior doctors' strikes continue
Doctors continue pay strike
20 September 2023
Junior doctors struck from 20 to 22 September, with more strikes planned for 2 to 4 October, and a national rally outside the Conservative party conference in Manchester on 3 October. Hospital consultants will also strike on 20 September and on the October dates.
Mixed progress for doctors
Junior doctors in Scotland have voted overwhelmingly to accept a pay offer. In a ballot nearly 82 per cent voted for the deal on a 71 per cent turn-out.
Doctors in dispute [print version]
Junior hospital doctors in England were on strike for 72 hours from 14 to 17 June – their third strike since March in support of their pay campaign.
Doctors in dispute
14 June 2023
Junior doctors in England are on strike again in June in support of their pay campaign, but talks have been unproductive so far. Consultants also take action next month.
Doctors to strike over pay
22 February 2023
Junior doctors have voted overwhelmingly to strike in support of their campaign for full pay restoration. They join many other NHS workers fighting for better pay.
Another medical school denied support for British student doctors
20 January 2023
The government has told another new medical school that no British students will be supported – although it can recruit overseas students.
Medical Schools - Only for foreign students
The good news: new medical schools are operating in Britain. The bad news: they are unable to accept British students, and will be recruiting only applicants from abroad.
Unequal access to GPs: a radical solution needed
15 June 2022
Access to primary health care services is a concern across Britain. Those who work in NHS must take charge of this emergency to rectify the situation.
Would-be doctors face squeeze while NHS continues to hire from abroad
Medical schools saw an astonishing 21 per cent surge in applications to train to be a doctor for entry in 2021. But most applicants will be turned away – while Britain continues to import doctors trained abroad.
Call for more student doctors
Britain needs to increase the number of student doctors, says the president-elect of the Royal College of Physicians.
Junior doctors' dispute: the end of the beginning
In dispute for over a year, junior hospital doctors have had to draw back from their planned series of five-day strikes against an unsafe contract. But it’s a protracted struggle…
Doctors fighting for the NHS
5 September 2016
Hospital doctors have begun a new phase of action in response to the government’s attempt to impose new contracts. Strikes planned for the autumn will take place unless the government halts the imposition and restarts meaningful talks.
The other referendum - junior doctors vote on contract
1 July 2016
Voting ends today (1 July) in the "Members Referendum" of junior doctors on whether to accept the terms negotiated by their union, the British Medical Association, to settle their long-running dispute with the government over seven-day working.
Doctors united
2 May 2016
The dispute over the junior hospital doctors’ contract has escalated further, with well supported strikes on 26 and 27 April. All health secretary Jeremy Hunt managed was an ill-advised attempt to paint doctors as the aggressors.
Junior doctors (picture caption)
Junior doctors demonstrating in Walthamstow, northeast London, on 6 April. As Workers went to press, they were due to walk out again on 26 and 27 April.
Junior doctors carry on as government cracks appear
8 April 2016
Striking doctors have been manning picket lines and engaging with the public in the latest rounds of their battle against the imposition of new contracts.
Hospital doctors’ dispute continues
13 February 2016
The strike by junior doctors on Wednesday 10 February was met by government bluster as health secretary Jeremy Hunt threatened to impose the new terms. The BMA says this action represents total failure by the government.