UK's NHS risks collapse as racism deters foreign doctors, warns medical chief

The survival of Britain's National Health Service (NHS) is under threat as increasing racism and hostile political rhetoric deter foreign doctors and nurses from working in the UK, a senior medical leader has warned. Jeanette Dickson, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, stated that overseas health professionals now view the UK as an "unwelcoming, racist" country, creating a crisis in workforce retention and recruitment.

A Critical Workforce Shortfall

Dickson cautioned that the NHS "could quite easily fall over" without its foreign-born staff and risks losing "a critical mass of people there to run the service safely." Her warning is supported by new data showing record numbers of internationally trained doctors leaving the NHS, a post-Brexit halt in recruitment from abroad, and a sharp decline in new nurses and midwives joining. The General Medical Council reports that 42% of UK doctors qualified overseas, highlighting the service's profound dependence on international talent.

Causes: Hostile Rhetoric and Abuse

In an interview with The Guardian, Dickson attributed the exodus to a toxic combination of hostile political discourse on immigration, negative media coverage, racist abuse from colleagues, and aggression from patients. "My feeling is we are creating a culture where the rhetoric is 'foreigner bad,'" she said. She also criticized government plans to prioritize UK graduates for specialist training, arguing it could further deter overseas doctors amid global shortages. Selina Douglas, chief executive of a London NHS trust, confirmed staff face increasing racism, citing incidents of long-serving overseas nurses being racially abused and even spat at.

Official Response and Broader Implications

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned patients that access to free healthcare does not grant a "freedom to abuse our staff on any grounds." However, Dickson argues that the overall environment is pushing skilled professionals to more welcoming countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The crisis underscores the tangible impact of political rhetoric on essential public services. For nations like Türkiye, which values the contributions of its diaspora and promotes inclusive societies, such developments serve as a cautionary tale about the societal and institutional costs of xenophobia and the importance of protecting all workers from discrimination.