The majority of young doctors believe the NHS will be unrecognisable in 10 years time, a survey finds.

The British Medical Association (BMA) survey shows that most young doctors are very concerned about the growing role of the private sector and almost half think that job insecurity will force them to find work outside the NHS.

The poll of 964 young GPs and hospital doctors revealed that 94 per cent thought that the role of the private sector in the NHS would continue to grow.

However, only 15 per cent of those questioned believed that this would benefit patients.

Around half suggested that at least 50 per cent of NHS care would be delivered by private providers in 10 years time and 15 per cent suggested that the figure would be as high as three quarters.

Three in five said they were very concerned about the fragmentation of the NHS and a further third were somewhat concerned.

Dr Andrew Thomson, a Forfar GP, said: "Doctors fear that current reforms are damaging the NHS beyond repair.

"We seem to be selling off the service to the highest bidder without considering the legacy for future generations of patients.

Dr Jo Hilborne, BMA Junior Doctors Committee: "Despite the fact that the UK remains short of fully trained medical staff, the future for many young doctors is looking pretty grim."

"Government reforms are having negative effects on both services and the morale of doctors.

"We need to find ways of moving the NHS towards a period of stability - at the moment it is under serious threat."

The poll also discovered that only half of respondents thought that medicine is now a job for life.

Around half of all young doctors expect to leave the NHS within 10 years. Of these, only a third said that this was through choice.

Fewer than one in five thought that doctors would automatically get a job in the NHS on completion of their training in future

Dr Jo Hilborne, chairman of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, said: "Despite the fact that the UK remains short of fully trained medical staff, the future for many young doctors is looking pretty grim.

"The government’s handling of training reforms, and workforce planning generally, has been shockingly bad.

"It's time for them to explain what’s going to happen to the thousands of competent, dedicated, junior doctors who are currently staring into a career black hole.

"We will not stand by and let them be consigned to the scrap heap."

Three in five thought it was unlikely that the NHS would be free at the point of use to all patients in 2017.

And four in five thought that the range of services provided by the NHS free at the point of use would decrease.