FORTY per cent of resident doctors in Wales fear they’ll be out of work from August, a survey revealed today.

The BMA collected responses from resident doctors who had completed at least two years of general postgraduate training. 

Job opportunities are so scarce, it found, that nearly half (46 per cent) facing unemployment are considering leaving medicine altogether, while 30 per cent are applying for jobs abroad. 

Doctors struggle to secure specialty training posts, usually the next step after two years of postgraduate training, with 53 per cent of those facing unemployment missing out.

One doctor told the BMA: “Despite my ongoing commitment and experience, the uncertainty around job security and training opportunities is a major source of stress. 

“It’s disheartening not knowing if I’ll be able to continue contributing to the health service I’ve grown to care deeply about.” 

Another said: “Last year seven applicants tried for every one training post, this year it doubled to 14:1. 

“I’ll likely never get a training post and it’s harder and harder to secure non-training jobs.” 

Chair of the BMA’s Welsh resident doctor committee Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu said: “Earlier this year, we wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care warning him of the potential impact of not expanding training places, including medical unemployment. 

“Doctors are now forced to seek ad hoc locum work, leave Wales, or leave the profession altogether. 

“Poor workforce planning and chronic underfunding of the NHS has led to a national shortage of doctors in Wales.”

The Welsh government said: “We’re currently investing £294m into health professional education and training in Wales.

“We have supported a significant increase in the number of postgraduate medical training posts and since 2019, there has been an increase of 342 speciality training posts and 222 foundation posts.”