The leader of Britain's medical professionals has issued a stark warning that the National Health Service is at serious risk of collapse due to a growing exodus of overseas-trained doctors and nurses, who are being driven away by a perception of the UK as "unwelcoming" and "racist".
A 'Hostile Environment' Deterring Vital NHS Staff
Jeanette Dickson, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which represents 220,000 doctors across the UK and Ireland, stated that harsh immigration policies and political rhetoric are creating a damaging "hostile environment". She told The Guardian that the prevailing message from media and politicians is perceived internationally as "foreigner bad".
"If you have never visited Britain and are looking at our media, the social media, press media, print media, what our politicians are reported as saying, I think that it's not unreasonable to see that as a hostile environment," Ms Dickson said. She directly linked this perception to Britain's retreat from Europe, attacks on synagogues, anti-Muslim protests, and a narrative framing immigration as a major problem.
Record Departures Threaten NHS Stability
The warning comes amid alarming data showing a 26 per cent increase in overseas-trained doctors leaving the NHS in record numbers. This trend poses an existential threat to a health service that relies heavily on international talent. A 2025 General Medical Council workforce report revealed that 42 per cent of UK doctors qualified abroad.
Ms Dickson cautioned that the NHS "could quite easily fall over" if it loses a critical mass of staff needed to run services safely. The GMC report echoed this, warning that even a small percentage increase in departures would leave "huge holes" impossible to fill quickly.
Rising Racism and Government Response
Compounding the recruitment crisis, Health Secretary Wes Streeting recently highlighted a resurgence of "1970s, 1980s-style" racist abuse targeting NHS staff in healthcare settings. He expressed shock at the rising tide of racism becoming "permissible again" and its impact on healthcare workers.
In response, a Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson reaffirmed the NHS's zero-tolerance stance on racism, stating: "The NHS benefits hugely from its international staff, and we'll continue to support and attract talented overseas staff who want to dedicate their time, energy and skills to the health service."
However, Ms Dickson's central question remains for potential recruits: "Why would you go somewhere where people are going, 'We don't need you, we don't want you'?" She concluded that for many overseas health workers, this makes Britain appear fundamentally unwelcoming, with hostility towards migrants significantly more prevalent than a decade ago.
