Doctors may have to repay training costs if they leave UK

DOCTORS could be forced to work in the UK for at least five years after completing their training under plans by Jeremy Hunt to expand the supply of home-grown practitioners.

The Health Secretary will today unveil plans for the largest-ever expansion in the NHS medical workforce, training an extra 1,500 doctors a year.

The scheme means the number of junior doctors will expand by one quarter, in an effort to ensure Britain is less reliant on overseas doctors in the years after Brexit.

It costs the taxpayer £230,000 to train a doctor, not taking into account the fees paid by individuals.

The new plans set out proposals for a “return of service” programme similar to that used by the Armed Forces. Under the proposals, medics could be forced to pay back some of their training costs if they do not stay in the NHS.

A public consultation will seek views on the idea, and consider a range of options for length of service, ranging from two years to more than five.

“By expanding our supply of homegrown doctors and proposing that they serve patients in the NHS for a minimum term, we will ensure taxpayer investment in the NHS is returned,” Mr Hunt said.

Health officials said decisions about what proportion of costs might be repaid would be taken once public support for the idea had been tested.

More than 6,000 university training places are available each year for doctors. Under the plans, these will increase by up to 1,500 each year from 2018-19.

Last month, a poll of doctors by the General Medical Council found that 60 per cent were considering leaving the UK. A majority cited Brexit as a factor.