The NHS is facing a fresh wave of uncertainty after new research revealed that thousands of staff are questioning their future in the service, with pay dissatisfaction at the heart of the problem.
A study published today in Lancet Regional Health Europe has shed light on the scale of the challenge. More than 10,500 NHS workers were surveyed between late 2024 and early 2025 in the I-CARE project, coordinated by the University of Leicester and University College London (UCL). The results point to widespread disillusionment: nearly half of respondents said they were unhappy with their pay, while over one in four admitted they were considering leaving.
Newly qualified doctors most at risk
The study found that younger professionals are the most likely to exit. More than half of newly qualified resident doctors, nurses and dentists expressed an intention to leave the NHS, compared with 45% of senior doctors and around a third of healthcare workers in other roles.
This paints a stark picture of a UK workforce under stress at a time when patient demand is rising, waiting lists are at record highs, and the public’s reliance on timely care has never been greater.
Calls for urgent action
Researchers stressed that the clearest message from the survey is that improved pay would have the greatest impact on retaining staff. Almost two-thirds of respondents ranked it as the top measure to keep them in post.
Professor Manish Pareek from the University of Leicester, who co-led the project, warned of the risks of inaction:
“NHS staff and in particular resident doctors feel deeply undervalued. If large numbers of doctors, relatively new to the service, are already thinking of leaving, the NHS is staring at a retention crisis. This has implications not only for workforce stability, but also for the quality and safety of patient care.”
Beyond pay: other pressures mounting
While pay is a key factor, researchers highlighted that it is not the only issue facing staff. Rota shortages, heavy workloads, and an overstretched system have left many employees feeling burnt out, exhausted and demoralised.
Professor Katherine Woolf of UCL Medical School, the study’s co-lead author, said the findings show a deeper malaise:
“High levels of intentions to leave among staff reflect wider problems across the workforce. Gaps in rotas, staff feeling overstretched, and low morale can all impact patient outcomes. The government’s 10-year NHS plan aims to improve staff experience and career progression, which is welcome. But our research makes clear that pay must be part of the solution if retention is to improve.”
What comes next?
Talks between the British Medical Association (BMA) and government are expected to continue over the summer, following months of industrial action by resident doctors. While ministers have insisted that long-term reforms are underway, the study underscores the growing urgency of addressing pay as part of a broader workforce strategy.
For many staff, this debate is about more than money—it is about feeling valued, respected, and motivated to stay in a service under immense strain. How the government, NHS leaders, and professional bodies respond in the coming months may shape not just the future of the workforce, but the confidence of patients who depend on it.
