BMJ 1994;309:1245-46 (12 November)

Editorials

The failure of consultant expansion

An increase in the number of consultants, both absolutely and as a proportion of all hospital doctors, has been the central recommendation of every investigation into medical manpower and training since the early 1970s. Yet, the effect of all of these reports on consultant expansion over the past 25 years has been imperceptible. Despite repeated calls for a growth rate of 4% a year the actual rate has remained close to 2%, almost exactly paralleling growth in the overall number of doctors working in the NHS. The latest figures from the health departments show no change or possibly a slight worsening, with an increase of only 1.9% in the number of consultants in 1992-3. In the same year the number of senior registrars increased by 4.2% and senior house officers by 5%. Appointments to the staff grade increased by 50%.

Quite apart from the need to ensure a smooth progression . . . [Full text of this article]


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Salter, B. (1995). Medicine and the State: Redefining the Concordat. Public Policy and Administration 10: 60-87  
  • Brearley, S. (1995). Harmonisation of specialist training in Europe: is it a mirage?. BMJ 311: 297-299 [Full text]  
  • Hobart, A. G (1995). Expansion depends on rigorous control of numbers in training and non-consultant career grades. BMJ 310: 470-470 [Full text]  
  • Howell, J., Ramaiah, S. (1995). Failure of consultant expansion. BMJ 310: 469c-470 [Full text]  
Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ