Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
JUST ONE TOP DOC FOR 4,533 PATIENTS
» Time to ‘get a grip’ over staff shortages in Ulster » Not enough consultants to meet need, say experts
NORTHERN Ireland has one of the highest numbers of patients per senior doctor in the UK.
A census carried out by the Royal College Of Physicians found the ratio of consultants to the public varies widely across the country.
The organisation is warning there aren’t enough doctors to treat the number of people in need.
RCP president Professor Andrew Goddard said: “The sheer dearth of senior doctors in some areas of the UK goes to the heart of the crisis facing our NHS. “There simply aren’t enough doctors to treat the number of people in need.
“A major part of the problem stems from the fact medical schools don’t have enough places to offer those who are keen to study the subject. “We’re calling on the Government to double the number of medical students.
“The Government also needs to do more to support efforts to retain current staff, which are being aggravated by the current pensions tax problem.
“Only then can we move closer to providing a National Health Service that is fair and timely for everyone, wherever and whenever they need it.”
The census found 415 senior doctors were working in Northern Ireland last year.
That works out as one full-time equivalent consultant for 4,533 people.
It’s nearly double the ratio of 2,724 patients per consultant in South London, which has the lowest ratio.
The RCP’S census revealed continuing pressure on the medical workforce, demonstrated by ongoing problems with rota gaps, unfilled posts and high levels of reported sickness absence.
A total of 43% of advertised consultant posts went unfilled due to a lack of suitable applicants. However, this year the number of consultant posts advertised also fell by 33%. Responding to the results, BMA consultants committee chairman Dr Rob Harwood said: “This survey makes for stark reading.
“It not only reveals the extent of the workforce crisis in our hospitals but also the very real impact this has on the lives and wellbeing of doctors working on the front line trying to provide the best care to patients.
“With fewer staff to meet rapidly rising demand, doctors’ morale is plummeting.
“Alongside damaging pension legislation, it is no wonder wards are struggling to fill vacancies and so there is a vicious cycle.
“The Government must get a grip on the staff shortages within our National Health Service by investing in the whole system, removing perverse pension rules that stop doctors taking on work and assuring overseas-trained doctors they will continue to be welcome here after Brexit.”
The 2018 census of consultant physicians and HSTS involved 8,656 doctors and was produced on behalf of RCP London, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “The National Health Service has more consultants now than at any time in its history, with over 17,300 more doctors working in the NHS since 2010 delivering excellent, safe care to patients.
“We also have record numbers of doctors in undergraduate training, recently adding 1,500 extra training places by opening five new medical schools across England – the majority in rural areas.
“The upcoming People Plan will address how we can ensure all NHS services have access to the doctors they need, including a national programme to tackle geographic and specialty shortages in medicine.”