Parents’ Concerns Over Physician Burnout Discourage 60% of UK Medical School applicants
LONDON - A new study reveals that a notable 60% of prospective medical students in the UK have received warnings against pursuing a career in medicine, largely driven by parental anxieties over grueling working conditions and poor work-life balance. The findings, stemming from analysis of applicants for the 2025 academic year, highlight a growing concern that the realities of a physician’s life are deterring the next generation of doctors before they even begin their training.
The study pinpointed parents as the primary source of dissuasion, with roughly one-third of applicants reporting influence from their parents’ opinions. However,the warnings weren’t focused on the difficulty of getting into medical school,but rather on the challenges of surviving the profession.
Specifically,concerns center around the “difficulties in doctors’ working lives,” including long hours and a perceived inability to maintain a healthy work-life balance,particularly for those wishing to start a family. Respondents across genders generally agreed that medicine is ”not a good job choice if you want to have a family.” A prevailing sentiment also expressed fear that the National Health Service “is a bad employer.”
Researchers concluded that these anxieties surrounding working conditions and career prospects “could be affecting [applicants’] decision to apply for a place in Medicine.”
The study emphasizes the need for “coordinated efforts of medical schools,” health services, and other stakeholders to address burnout and inflexibility. experts suggest tackling these issues is “the only way to ensure that the next generation of doctors does not quit before they start,” surpassing the importance of simply focusing on entry exam scores. despite these concerns, applicants still cited positive aspects of the profession, such as “the possibility of contributing to society” and the variety of work.
