Responding to the publication of the GMC's annual "State of medical education and practice in the UK: workforce report", Dr Clare McNaught, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh said:
"The report provides valuable intelligence on the entirety of the medical and surgical workforce in the UK.”
“Several notable findings have emerged, including the persistent challenge of achieving gender parity in surgical specialties relative to other fields, as well as a decrease in the average age at which physicians are surrendering their licences.”
"We also note that whilst there has been continued growth in the number of international medical graduates joining the GMC register, many were unable to secure employment and almost 5000 left the UK.
"As a new workforce planning exercise is about to start in England, and the reviews of Postgraduate medical training and the medical training initiative remain ongoing, it is important that these and other findings are considered. We look forward to collaborating with the GMC and policy makers to interpret the report and develop actions to support the surgical professions."