Responding to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report ‘Bleeding to death: the science and technology growth emergency’, BMA medical academic staff committee co-chairs Professor David Strain and Dr Jonathan Gibb said:

“This report recognises the importance of career structure, pay and incentives in attracting, and retaining, the best workforce in science. This aim of course extends to medical academics – the doctors leading medical research and developing innovative treatments, all of which directly benefit patients and the health of the population.
 
“The report underlines the need for pay in academic medicine to at least match that in the NHS. Yet the Government has continued to refuse to fund universities to support recent NHS pay awards.
 
“When we don’t invest in medical academics, we risk them leaving academia or even the UK for better opportunities. We are training some of the brightest doctors, but not incentivising them to remain in the UK health and life sciences ecosystem. This results in the ‘brain drain’ that this report describes, to the detriment of innovation in healthcare, future medical workforce and patient care.”

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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.