That this House notes that, in 1957, approximately 12 per cent of NHS doctors were trained overseas, compared with around 42 per cent in 2024; appreciates the vital contribution made by internationally trained doctors who support the NHS but notes that this does not negate our responsibility to train our domestic workforce; further notes that the UK continues to turn away around 16,000 domestic medical school applicants each year despite well-documented workforce pressures; observes that the NHS subsequently recruits approximately 20,000 internationally trained doctors annually to fill gaps that could be met through expanded domestic training; believes that valuing overseas clinicians and reducing reliance on international recruitment are not mutually exclusive, and that a sustainable workforce must be built on training sufficient numbers of UK doctors; and calls on the Government to set out a credible long-term workforce plan that expands medical school capacity, improves retention, and ensures the NHS is staffed in a way that is resilient for the future.
