NHS 'in danger of complete collapse' as senior medics consider leaving, BMA warns

Poll results show that two in five of the most experienced hospital doctors plan to leave the NHS next year due to pay cuts and staff shortages

An exodus of senior NHS staff will leave the remaining workforce struggling (

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Doctors have warned the government that the NHS is 'in danger of complete collapse' unless drastic changes are made.

The situation in the NHS has become so dire, with working conditions so poor that two in five of the most experienced hospital doctors plan to leave the health service next year, according to a survey.

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The British Medical Association (BMA) has also called for immediate government action, saying the NHS is 'at breaking point'.

The survey found that 44% of hospital consultants and 50% of surgeon consultants planned to leave.

According to a BMA survey of nearly 8,000 consultants, salary and pension tax regimes are among the reasons staff have been tempted to leave. Nine out of 10 consultants said this year's 4.5% salary increase was "inadequate". or "completely unacceptable".

The NHS cannot afford to lose more staff (

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Getty Images)

The BMA says 'punitive' rules on pension taxation have led to a tripling of the number of doctors taking early retirement in the past 13 years.

Dr Vishal Sharma, Chairman of the BMA's Board of Consultants, said: "The NHS is already at breaking point and cannot afford to lose any of its staff, let alone the prospect of losing nearly half of its most experienced doctors.< /p>

"Not only will this have a very significant negative impact on patient care, but this loss of physicians will simply lead to increased pressure on staff to remain in the workforce, further increasing the risk of burnout.

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"At the back...