In January this year, the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK undertook the first in a series of snapshot surveys to sections of the physician workforce.
The survey looked at the issue of rota gaps, with a third of UK consultant physicians surveyed.
Highlights of the results are:
A minimum of 58% (and up to 100%) have advertised more than once to full consultant posts
42% expansion posts not filled
71% respondents stated that colleagues are asked to cover work rota gaps
54% responded that management and committee work was being sacrificed
40% report that formal and informal teaching was stopped
The results indicate that consultant responsibilities are becoming increasingly compromised by rota gaps, with a concerning loss of consultant engagement in critical activities including management and committee work, and in both formal and informal training. Succession planning is under threat in particular specialties, notably acute internal medicine, respiratory medicine, and endocrinology and diabetes. We are also seeing a rise in demand for geriatric services in keeping with our ageing population.
As this concerning trend continues, this creates enormous challenges for not only delivery infrastructure, but training and supervisory infrastructure of both trainees and emerging supporting roles within the acute environment. The College is committed to supporting the medical workforce in a range of ways including extensive online teaching and mentor schemes for new consultants. However these findings highlight the daily challenges faced by our members in providing a first class sustainable and consistent seven day-service in our NHS. It demonstrates the necessity for short and long term actions to both plug these gaps and change the way that care is delivered where this is realistically possible.
Full results are available here.
The snapshot surveys are being carried out in addition to the annual census of consultant physicians and higher specialty trainees in the UK.
