Only a 10th of doctors would recommend a career in medicine

One in 10 doctors would recommend a career in medicine, while around two thirds would discourage a relative from becoming a doctor, show the results of an online poll of over 400 doctors.

In response to a survey by Doctors.net.uk, answered by 480 doctors, 10% said that they would encourage or strongly encourage a relative who was wondering whether to pursue a career as a UK doctor. A fifth (20%) said that they would remain neutral, and 69% said that they would discourage or strongly discourage a relative from doing so.

Doctors.net.uk said that the results of the survey reflected “current concerns about NHS contract reform.”1234

Commenting on the findings, Tim Ringrose, chief executive of Doctors.net.uk, said that the findings were worrying. “This poll is a very concerning indicator that all is not well in the UK medical workforce,” he said. “The finding that a large majority of doctors are not recommending a career in UK medicine to their friends and family needs attention and fast.”

The attractiveness of a career in medicine will be the subject of a debate being held as part of BMJ Live, which runs from 23 to 24 October at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. At 18.45 on 23 October, BMJ Careers will be hosting “The Big Debate” session at the event. The GPs Clare Gerada and Pete Deveson, the consultant diabetologist Partha Kar, and the consultant anaesthetist Helgi Johannsson will debate the motion, “This house believes that medicine is the best career in the world.”

The audience will hear analysis of how medical careers have changed in an era of stagnant pay, rising workload, and changing expectations among patients, and audience members will be able to share their views with colleagues from across the profession.

• ● For information on booking to attend The Big Debate and for further details about other events at BMJ Live please visit careersfair.bmj.com.