New figures from NHS England have revealed that every GP specialty training post available in the latest recruitment round has been accepted by UK graduates or applicants within newly defined priority groups, marking the first major impact of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026.
According to NHS England, all 4,364 GP Specialty Training Year 1 (ST1) places were offered to and accepted by candidates who met the criteria set out in the legislation, which came into force in March 2026. The Act was introduced to address growing concerns about increasing competition for postgraduate medical training posts among UK-trained doctors.
The results represent a significant change from the previous year. In the first recruitment round of 2025, only 62% of GP training places were filled by applicants who would now fall within the priority group. This year, that figure rose to 100%, demonstrating the immediate effect of the new recruitment framework.
The legislation requires eligible UK graduates and other designated priority candidates to be offered training places before any other applicants. Priority status extends beyond UK medical graduates and includes individuals who trained in the Republic of Ireland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, as well as those who have completed relevant UK programmes. Certain immigration and residency categories, including British and Irish citizens and people with indefinite leave to remain, are also included.
NHS England described the outcome as evidence that the legislation has delivered on its objectives. It reported that prioritised applicants filled 98% of all specialty training posts across the NHS, while competition ratios for training places fell from around four applicants per post to two applicants per post.
Government representatives have also pointed to the data as proof of the law’s effectiveness in supporting UK-trained doctors and reducing competition pressures. Because the legislation was introduced during an active recruitment cycle, prioritisation could only be applied at the offer stage this year. Future recruitment rounds are expected to implement prioritisation earlier in the process.
However, the policy has generated considerable debate within the medical profession. Critics argue that the legislation disadvantages some international medical graduates (IMGs), many of whom already work within the NHS and have contributed significantly to patient care.
Data from the recruitment process highlights this concern. While non-priority applicants made up the majority of those who initially applied for training posts (57%) and the majority of those who successfully passed interviews (53%), none were ultimately offered places in the first recruitment round.
The issue was discussed at the British Medical Association’s Annual Representative Meeting, where delegates backed a motion criticising the exclusion of refugee doctors from priority status unless they qualify through another route, such as holding indefinite leave to remain. Supporters of the motion argued that refugee doctors have often faced substantial disruptions to their careers and should be given fair opportunities to progress within the NHS.
Opposition to the legislation has also come from thousands of doctors who previously signed a petition calling for international doctors with at least two years of continuous NHS service to be included within the priority group. Despite these concerns, the Bill passed through Parliament without amendments.
As the first recruitment cycle under the new law concludes, the figures highlight both the policy’s effectiveness in prioritising UK-trained doctors and the ongoing debate about its impact on international and refugee medical professionals.