Scottish healthcare must place a sustained focus on actively inspiring and funding the country’s emerging NHS talent to pursue innovation amid a gap in training places

That is the view of leading innovation agency InnoScot Health following claims of a shortage in specialist training places for resident doctors.

Scottish Government data shows the number of doctors coming through training in Scotland has risen steadily in recent years, from 1,315 in 2010/21 to 1,565 in 2024/25 with competition often then high for limited places in some specialties.

However, while it is thought that the majority of doctors secure a specialty training post within three years of completing foundation training, many say they spend time in temporary clinical roles, take time out before entering specialist programmes, or consider entirely different paths.

Dr Chris Smith, chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland's resident doctor committee, insisted that “there are not enough training places or jobs to allow them to continue to practise medicine in Scotland. We are at risk of losing people.”

InnoScot Health believes that this should be the period when those doctors could be applying their focus to honing an innovation-led mindset for a more efficient, cost-effective healthcare system.

Executive Chair at InnoScot Health, Graham Watson said: “To an extent, NHS Scotland is adopting innovative approaches in order to meet anticipated future service demands.

“This includes initiatives like the NHS Scotland Academy offering accelerated training in areas such as endoscopy, ultrasound, and advanced clinical skills, not to mention the NHS Fellowship in Clinical AI, a 12-month work-based programme which advances capability in this important, burgeoning area.

“Yet, we evidently need more dedicated innovation training opportunities for emerging clinicians. This can help to embed the change agents of the future and set us on a new path to forward-thinking collaboration which increasingly brings together the country’s NHS, industry, and academia.

“With sometimes intense competition and career uncertainty being experienced by medical students who are keen to become a consultant or GP, that gap could be filled by Scottish Government-funded innovation learning. We need leaders to come through and inspire smarter ways of working based on cutting-edge insights.

“The benefits of tapping into and supporting those insights drawn from resident doctors’ diverse backgrounds should not be underestimated.”

He added: “Now is the time for those who can make a powerful contribution to be given the opportunity and financial support to step forward — and resident doctors are well-placed to do that.”

InnoScot Health supports early-stage solutions, offering mentorship to help develop and commercialise innovative ideas and medical devices.

The organisation launched a new innovation call earlier this month in a bid to inspire early-stage innovators such as students and emerging NHS staff across Scotland and draw out solutions to unmet healthcare needs.