College reveals results of annual physician’s survey

Senior doctors have raised new concerns for patient safety in the NHS across the UK in a new report released today (Tuesday 26 June).

The fears are highlighted in “Focus on Physicians 2017 – 18”, the annual census of consultant physicians and higher speciality trainees (HST) workforce across the UK. The report has been jointly published by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and the Royal College of Physicians of London.

The survey reveals that more than half of all consultants and two thirds of trainees reported frequent gaps in trainees’ rotas, with one in five respondents saying these are causing significant problems for patient safety in hospitals, while three quarters of respondents have highlighted the workaround solutions they are regularly having to find.

Other high-level findings include:

• almost half of advertised consultant posts remain unfilled because of a lack of suitable applicants

• consultants and trainees are working around 10 per cent more than their contracted hours. This equates to trainees working an extra six weeks and consultants an extra month unpaid a year

• thirty-three per cent of the current consultant workforce are predicted to reach their intended retirement age in the next decade. Medical student places need doubling now to fill this and the gap left generally by doctors leaving the profession

• satisfaction among consultants and trainees with working in general internal medicine remains significantly lower than with specialty-working

Commenting on the findings of the census, Professor Derek Bell OBE, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said:

“As one of the three Royal Colleges that commissioned this report, we believe that Focus on Physicians provides an important snapshot of the state of play within the medical profession. We welcome, in particular, that 88% of consultants enjoy working in their chosen speciality. This indicates a high level of job satisfaction for consultant specialists. 

“Our report also highlights some challenges which must be tackled head on, and we support any actions which allow doctors time to care, time to train and time to research. We believe that these conditions are essential for job satisfaction, and ultimately for enhancing the care that our patients receive.”