New survey findings indicate that childcare pressures are significantly influencing how doctors participate in the NHS workforce, with many reducing their working hours or reconsidering career paths as family responsibilities clash with medical working patterns.

A survey of 1,124 UK doctors with children reveals that 81% struggle to find suitable childcare, an issue that is shaping career decisions and service availability across the health system. The consequences are stark. 65% of respondents report reducing their working hours, while 86% say childcare difficulties have influenced them to change roles, specialties, or career plans altogether - raising concerns about the retention of experienced clinicians, particularly in areas where flexibility is limited. One doctor responding to the survey said: “Childcare does not fit with medical rotas.

“Without family support it is impossible to work full time.” Another described how inflexible working patterns were reshaping career decisions: “Shift work and on-call commitments make standard childcare impossible. It has forced me to reconsider how much I can realistically work.” 

Alongside career disruption, the strain on doctors’ wellbeing is significant. More than half (54.9%) report that childcare challenges have a moderate to extreme impact on their mental health, while many describe persistent guilt and anxiety about letting down patients, colleagues, or their families. Notably, 94% say they feel guilt related to childcare and work conflicts, underscoring the emotional toll alongside the practical barriers. 

Key findings from the survey include: 

  • 81% of respondents with children struggle to find suitable childcare 
  • 65% have reduced their working hours due to childcare constraints 
  • 86% say childcare difficulties have driven career or role changes 
  • 9% find coordinating childcare with work moderately to extremely difficult 
  • 9% report a moderate to extreme impact on mental health and wellbeing linked to childcare provision 
  • 94% experience guilt linked to balancing childcare and professional responsibilities 

Respondents consistently highlighted that existing childcare systems are fundamentally misaligned with medical work patterns. Shift work, nights, weekends, and frequently changing rotas make standard childcare models unworkable, often forcing last-minute cancellations, unpaid leave, or missed training opportunities. The impact extends beyond individual families. 

Doctors report that childcare-related absences contribute to rota instability, increased workload for colleagues, and disruption to continuity of care - compounding pressures in already overstretched teams. Many also described a “double burden” on partners or extended family members, who absorb additional caring responsibilities to keep doctors at work. While workforce policy discussions often focus on recruitment, the findings underline the urgent need to address retention and participation.

Without structural solutions to childcare access and flexibility, the NHS risks continuing to lose experienced clinicians at the very moment they are most needed. Doctors responding to the survey called for: 

  • Flexible, extended-hours childcare aligned with healthcare shift patterns 
  • Improved affordability and availability of childcare options 
  • Employer-led and system-wide approaches recognising childcare as a workforce sustainability and patient safety issue, not a private concern

Online survey conducted by Doctors.net.uk of its members in December 2025 among 1,124 UK doctors working in primary and secondary care who have children and successfully completed the survey.

The survey explored access to childcare and its impact on working patterns, wellbeing, and career decisions. Doctors.net.uk is the UK’s largest online community of GMC-registered doctors, providing a professional space to connect with peers, access support, and share clinical knowledge and experience.

The platform has more than 270,000 members across all specialties and career stages, and membership is free.