Angry Junior Doctors Advised To Stay In UK

Junior doctors thinking of quitting the NHS to work down under are being warned not to do so by a medical recruiter in Australia.

Guy Hazel, who runs the Austmedics agency in Melbourne, has seen a threefold increase in enquiries from disgruntled young medics in recent months.

However, he has told Sky News there is not an easy escape route for English junior doctors - especially if they were hoping to develop their careers and achieve senior positions in Australia.

"They can come for two or three years and work in hospitals, emergency medicine …not a problem. But in terms of reaching their desired goal to be a consultant, I wouldn't advise them to jump ship," Mr Hazel said.

Many junior doctors are furious that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has decided to force through a new employment contract which would affect pay and conditions, after a dispute with the British Medical Association sparked two walkouts.

In the space of 24 hours, a petition on the Government's website which called for a vote of no confidence to be considered in Mr Hunt surpassed the 100,000 signatures required for it to be put forward for debate in Parliament.

Jonathan Williamson, a 24-year-old junior doctor from London, says he will probably leave England to practise medicine in Australia, Sri Lanka or India - and claims he is not alone.

He explained: "Morale is quite low at the moment and imposing a contract against our will undermines how we feel. We don't feel valued."

Other junior doctors are looking closer to home for better opportunities.

James Kilgour, a final year medical student from Oxford who is studying in Cardiff, told Sky News he intends to stay in Wales after graduating - as Mr Hunt's new work deal will not apply there.

Before the dispute began, he was planning to return to England.

"The contract in Wales is much better financially, but also the work-life balance, the cost of living and property prices," Mr Kilgour added.

Meanwhile, in Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged disenfranchised English medics to head north of the border if they want to develop their careers - describing it as "a great place to train".

Figures from the General Medical Council show that the number of doctors applying for accreditation to work abroad has doubled since 2008 - however, the number who have actually left the NHS during that time has changed little year on year.