Male doctors in the United Kingdom earn 56% more than their female counterparts, according to a survey conducted by Medscape. While full-time female physicians earn an average of £80,000 per annum, the average salary is £126,400 for men.

The figure contradicts data released by the NHS earlier this year which suggests there is a 21.2% pay gap between male and female physicians.

Nevertheless, despite being paid an average salary of £114,600 each year, 3 out of 5 doctors said they are not paid enough for the work they do. Furthermore male doctors were more likely to have said that they believe they should be paid more. Younger doctors were also more likely to be dissatisfied with their salaries.

Overall, the majority of the 800 doctors surveyed, reported that working in the NHS is getting harder, with 87% saying that increased workloads, lack of funding, waiting lists, and scarce resources had made their jobs more challenging in the previous year.

Nevertheless 83% of doctors were happy with their career choice; however fewer than half of doctors would like their children to pursue a career as a health professional.  

Meanwhile one third of doctors said they were considering moving in order to work abroad while three in 10 believed that Brexit was affecting their overall plans.