Most UK medical students struggle to afford essentials, survey finds

BMA reports six in 10 are going without food, clothing and heating, raising fears some will drop out and worsen NHS staffing crisis

Medical students are having to stop spending on essentials such as food, clothing and heating because of astronomical" debts, a broken" student finance system and a spiralling cost of living crisis, a survey has suggested.

Six in 10 UK medical students report cutting or ceasing spending on necessities, according to a British Medical Association (BMA) poll. Many are questioning their decision to go into medicine and some are considering quitting before they qualify.