18.07.17
Cracks emerge in paediatrics as quarter of senior trainee jobs still vacant
Warnings have been raised about growing gaps in the paediatrics workforce as it was today revealed that one in four senior trainee positions in the sector are currently vacant.
In figures released by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), it was also revealed that almost one in five trainee positions were currently unfilled.
Shockingly, 90% of children’s units told the RCPH that they were worried about how they would cope over the next six months.
In addition, 67% of respondents said that the highly controversial 2016 junior doctors’ contract was having a negative impact on recruitment and retention.
Today’s figures come after the organisation unsurfaced widespread staff shortages and rising rota gaps that led to an “extremely difficult autumn” last year.
“Large gaps in the paediatric workforce have a serious impact on doctors and vital hospital services,” said Dr Simon Clark, RCPCH officer for workforce planning.
“The shortages create very difficult working environments resulting in low morale amongst doctors and a lack of time for training and education. More senior doctors end up back-filling the gaps, which in turn also leads to cancelled services.”
Dr Clark added that in context of an NHS already stretched by budget cuts, the new figures shed further light on the pressures facing junior doctors.
“With more than 40% of positions filled by expensive ‘locum’ temporary staff, this can only add more pressure to strained hospital budgets,” he explained. “Whilst recognising the need to curtail costs, the pay cap was a simplistic short-term approach to a complex problem; it does not go to the root of the problem and as such is working for nobody.
“These figures should act as a wake-up call for government to act now. Health Education England is responsible for training but has insufficient funding; NHS employers have insufficient funding; yet this problem is here and now.
“Efforts need to be co-ordinated across the now-multiple components of a fragmented NHS.”
The RCPH lead also stated that with paediatric trainees excluded from the Home Office Shortage Occupation List in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, hospitals and doctors had been left in a “difficult and unsustainable position”.
Responding to the survey, Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, argued that the staffing shortage would be further exacerbated unless future policies on migration were set out clearly.
“As the words ‘workforce crisis’ dominate headlines on the health service, it’s clear that, whatever the cause of this crisis, we must waste no further time in addressing it,” he stated. “NHS Employers’ own work in this area is stepping up, with a briefing document launched at its annual Workforce Summit, covering ways to bring in, and retain, local talent.”
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