This thesis examines the process of migration of medical doctors from Poland to the United Kingdom following the European Union expansion in 2004. The research covers all the stages of the process, from a study of the determinants, the decision-making process, through the channels of migration, to the reception in the host country and the impact on the sending country. The conceptual framework, largely based on the brain drain approach and push-pull model for evaluating mobility, is extended to include a more comprehensive study of the socio-political conditions, as well as micro, meso and macro theories from different disciplines in order to explain migration and its outcomes. A broad range of sources is used for the study, combining the analysis of statistical data and documents with original in-depth interviews with doctors who moved abroad and those who had no intention to do so, a quantitative survey measuring the migration propensity among medical students, as well as interviews with recruitment agents and key informants. The thesis concludes that the increased flows of medical doctors, though triggered by the EU expansion, occur primarily due to push factors, resulting from the deeply rooted problems in the healthcare system. Motivations for migration are universally recognised by respondents and no clear migrant profile can be identified. Recruitment agents are important for facilitating mobility in the early stages of the EU membership, though the development of migrant networks is also observed. The UK is found to be a welcoming environment for the new arrivals with strong retentive characteristics. In terms of the impact of migration on Poland, despite an interest in the phenomenon, the policy response remained limited. Nevertheless, the increased mobility of medical doctors has helped to highlight the challenges faced by the Polish healthcare system, which need to be addressed to prevent skill shortages.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:625561 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Madaj, B. N. |
| Publisher | University College London (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1302279/ |
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