Half of resident doctors finishing foundation training say they have no job secured for next month, according to a major survey from the BMA – leading the doctors’ union to seek a deal on training places as part of its ongoing dispute with the Government.
After resident doctors complete their first two years of training, FY1 and FY2, they enter specialty training to become consultants or GPs. However, this year there were more than 30,000 doctors applying for just 10,000 specialty training places.
Now with just days to go, 52% of FY2 doctors surveyed by the BMA said they have no substantive employment secured from August, when the new roles begin.
Overall, the survey found a third of all resident doctor respondents had no role secured for next month.
The Government recently promised, as part of its 10-year plan, to create 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years, but with the situation currently at crisis point, the BMA says this falls well short of what is needed.
The BMA is therefore launching an additional linked dispute with the Government, demanding action both on pay and training bottlenecks on behalf of newly-qualified FY1s, who, in the coming years, will be most heavily impacted by the problem.
BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs Dr Ross Nieuwoudt and Dr 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.”
Ends
Notes to editors
The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.
- Respondents were asked: “Do you have planned substantive employment or regular locum work from August 2025?”. Of 4,401 who answered, 1,484 (34%) said no. Of the 1,053 FY2s who answered 547 (52%) said no.
- The survey ran online between Monday 21 and Monday 28 July.