The media reported on the replacement of doctors by nurses due to staff shortages in Britain

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is facing an acute shortage of medical staff, forcing nurses and medical assistants to replace qualified doctors. This was reported on April 25 by The Guardian newspaper.

"Due to the shortage of medical staff in UK hospitals, nurses are replacing doctors, which raises concerns that 'substitute doctors' may provide substandard medical care," the publication says.

According to the newspaper, in a number of British medical institutions, senior nurses actually perform the functions of doctors in critical departments such as emergency care, neonatology and intensive care. The British Medical Association (BMA) reported that almost half of the kingdom's hospitals rely on medical assistants to fill gaps in their duty schedules.

The BMA warns that the mass use of specialists without appropriate medical education in medical positions is "simply unsafe."

In addition to staffing shortages, hospitals can take such steps to save money. A survey conducted by the British Medical Association among British hospitals showed that almost half of them confirmed the involvement of physician assistants in the work traditionally performed by doctors.

On November 21, The Guardian newspaper warned of an impending staff shortage in healthcare in Britain. According to published information, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has proposed a plan according to which migrants will be able to obtain permanent resident status in 10 years instead of the current five years.