Consultant expansion in medical specialties continued in 2008, according to the annual census by the Royal College of Physicians.
The workforce numbers increased across all medical specialties by 4.5%. There was a 23% expansion in consultants in acute and general medicine in one year, reflecting the increasing importance of consultant physicians on the frontline of medical admissions.
The other specialty experiencing a large increase in consultants was stroke medicine, with an 85% increase from 27 physicians to 50. It reflects the prioritisation of stroke care in Lord Darzi’s quality agenda.
Despite the overall increase in numbers, nearly three quarters of consultants said they experienced increased work pressure in 2008 compared with three years ago. Consultants work an average of 11.6 programmed activities per week.
Consultants in paediatric cardiology work the highest average number of hours.
Some specialties contracted, notably geriatric medicine (-1.6%), dermatology (-0.2%), and allergy (-7.7%). The latter is already a small specialty, with no specialists in either Scotland or Wales.
The census also shows that 26.5% of consultants and 50.5% of SpRs/STs in medical specialties were women in 2008. However, only 13% of consultants worked less than whole time. Cardiology has the lowest percentage of female consultants and SpRs/STs, and palliative medicine the highest.
Dr Andrew Goddard, director of workforce at the RCP, said: “The WTD has reduced the number of junior doctors available to see patients admitted to hospital. Expansion of consultants is vital to ensure that patients get high quality care early.
“The census shows that this appears to be happening at the moment, but as public finances face a big squeeze over the next few years further expansion may be limited. Unless we can maintain that expansion, patient care and safety will be compromised.”
In 2008, the total number of SpRs/STs increased, but the whole-time equivalent number has not because of the rise in less than whole-time working.
The average amount of time spent by SpRs/STs training others is only 7.3%, with a wide variation between specialties.
Over 5,000 physicians responded to the survey.
Tags: Consultants, Trainees, Workforce
