THE number of NHS doctors retiring early has more than trebled since 2008, figures show.

       It has gone from 401 to 1,358 in 2020/21 — with many citing pressure due to Covid as the cause.

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       The number of NHS doctors retiring early has TREBLED, figures reveal Credit: Getty - Contributor

       Average retirement age fell from 61 to 59 in the period — but the overall number of doctors employed by the NHS jumped 35,000 to 176,000.

       Almost half NHS trusts have seen staff leave early, a separate poll by NHS Providers revealed.

       Saffron Cordery, its deputy chief executive, said “burnout” and the impact of the pandemic were among the reasons.

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       She said NHS staff were “incredibly tired”.

       Dr Vishal Sharma, of the British Medical Association, said more than half GPs plan to retire before age 60 due to a “punitive” pension taxation system — and Covid had “made things worse”.

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