Building a Sustainable Future for UK Medical Training
Miad Healthcare has worked closely with the healthcare sector for almost three decades, partnering with NHS Trusts, Independent healthcare organisations, Community Care, Primary Care, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), Independent healthcare organisations and individuals to deliver relevant training in an accessible, informative and innovative way. Drawing upon this expertise, we have taken a dive into the General Medical Council’s (GMC) National Training Survey 2025 results, which offer a comprehensive snapshot of progress and persistent challenges within UK medical education.
Drawing feedback from over 71,000 trainers and trainees, the results reveal both encouraging trends and critical areas demanding urgent action.
Encouraging Progress Amid Systemic Strain
Trainee satisfaction has risen slightly from 82% in 2024 to 84% in 2025, with notable improvements in clinical supervision, teaching quality and induction. These gains reflect the ongoing commitment of educators and programme leaders to enhance learning experiences.
However, systemic pressures continue to overshadow these successes. Sixty-one percent of respondents reported their workload as often or always heavy, while the same proportion are at moderate or high risk of burnout — double the high-risk level recorded in 2019. Half of trainees experience significant emotional strain, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable wellbeing measures.
Support and Mentorship Gaps
Mentorship remains a cornerstone of effective training, yet 56% of trainees lack access to a mentor. Many also struggle to access wellbeing services, exacerbating risks to both staff and patient care. While 84% of trainees feel confident raising patient safety concerns, one in five remain hesitant — particularly in high-pressure specialities. This hesitancy reflects a deeper cultural issue that endangers patient safety and highlights the need for safer, more supportive working environments.
Trainer Experience and Constraints
Trainer satisfaction mirrors that of trainees, with 83% feeling valued and 90% enjoying their roles. Yet 30% do not feel adequately supported by their employers or local education teams. In secondary care, 29% of trainers said rota gaps had negatively affected trainee education, and 27% were unable to use their designated training time as intended. The lack of protected time for supervision and feedback remains a major concern, threatening to worsen as service demands grow.
Persistent EDI Disparities
Despite greater awareness, discrimination remains entrenched. Forty-five percent of bisexual trainees and 39% of gay trainees reported hearing discriminatory remarks, compared with 24% of heterosexual peers. Among ethnic minority UK graduates, 34% experienced microaggressions, versus 25% of white trainees. Seventeen percent of women reported being ignored or excluded, compared with 13% of men, while 7% of all trainees experienced bullying or undermining.
Alarmingly, 39% of all trainees — and 43% of those from ethnic minority backgrounds — do not feel confident reporting discrimination without fear of reprisal. Meaningful change requires a culture in which all staff can report wrongdoing safely and confidently.
The Path Forward
The GMC has identified key priorities: embedding wellbeing support, reducing workload pressures, improving feedback mechanisms, and tackling discrimination through targeted interventions. Adapting training to reflect a more flexible, part-time workforce will also be essential.
Collaboration across institutions will be critical to ensure consistency in standards and equity of experience. A unified, externally supported programme could help address regional disparities and strengthen the foundations of UK medical education.
Sustained investment in people, mentorship and systems is vital. A resilient, inclusive and well-supported training environment will not only benefit trainees, but also improve patient care, strengthen the workforce and safeguard the future of UK healthcare.
The role of Miad
Miad is fully committed to creating an inclusive training environment where individuals are valued and respected, and its courses reflect that at every stage. Available via webinars, in person workshops, e-learning courses or blended programmes designed to suit specific needs, Miad’s courses are driving change, and helping healthcare providers to support, nurture and train their employees to the highest standards of patient care. The diverse range of courseware and organisational development services provided by Miad includes everything from appraisal and revalidation, leadership management and teambuilding, to patient safety, business and governance, as well as a portfolio of personal development courses, all playing a part in ensuring the competence of employees to do their job. The fundamental priority of many of the courses is to keep staff, patients and visitors safe in a healthcare setting, enhancing the quality of care whilst targeting the career progression of healthcare professionals.