the nhs has been forced to ask british doctors in australia to come home due to a major shortfall in numbers around 1,000 more gps are urgently needed in england, according to new figures released by the house of commons library it is thought that nearly 1,500 doctors   who cost the taxpayer up to £610,000 to train   move to australia every year to bridge the gap they have been offered a place on a 'fully funded' programme, which they can choose to be either full or part time, if they return around 1,000 more gps are needed in england an advert has been placed in two medical magazines asking doctors in australia to come home to bridge the gap (stock picture) an advert was placed in the australian doctor and the medical observer by nhs england's shropshire and staffordshire area team and health education midlands earlier this month it said: 'this scheme will help you rediscover and enhance the skills you need to return, or start to practise in the uk 'it's fully funded, so you will be supported whilst you complete the programme' the nhs has simultaneously announced a £10million strategy to further tempt graduates and experienced medical staff under a quarter of trainees chose to go into general practice last year   with just over 5,000 applicants in total but cash will now be offered if they work in an under staffed area for three years andy burnham (above), shadow minister for health, said the figures prove the nhs is suffering from a gp recruitment crisis  andy burnham, shadow minister for health, said the figures prove the nhs is suffering from a gp recruitment crisis 'gp services have gone into freefall under this government david cameron promised to put gps at the heart of the nhs, but instead caused a new gp recruitment crisis,' he told the observer but gp leaders have said that the advertisements will not  solve the staffing crisis dr ken deacon, medical director of the north midlands at nhs england, said that the problem was newly qualified gps being outnumbered by those nearing retirement the advert promised doctors currently working in australia (sydney opera house above) that the scheme would 'help you rediscover and enhance the skills you need to return' a female heavy workforce has also been blamed for the gap the 'feminisation' of surgeries has led to the uk needing more trainees because women are more likely to work shorter hours than men, a report released by the migration advisory committee last week claimed this has contributed to an annual shortage of 450 to 550 gps, the committee warned it suggested that more needed to be done to recruit family doctors   including hiring extra foreign doctors from across the eu a spokesperson for nhs england said that the central team had not previously been aware of the advertisement, but described it as a ‘positive scheme’
nhs andy burnham australia england new zealand each year
advert placed in two magazines promises 'fully funded' scheme on return  nearly 1,500 doctors move to australia and new zealand each year  around 1,000 more gps are needed in england, according to new figures  andy burnham mp said nhs is experiencing a 'gp recruitment crisis'