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Trusts should cut workload of senior physicians to retain them

London Madeleine Brettingham

More than three quarters of consultant physicians currently in post intend to retire early. This exodus could leave every large hospital in the United Kingdom short of two physicians and could mean a loss of over 6000 working years in total to the NHS, the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians has warned.

The findings, from the federation’s 2004 annual census of UK consultant physicians, indicate that the government needs to take more account of changing working patterns. Doctors are leaving the profession early, escaping long working hours and stressful conditions, says the federation, which comprises the Royal Colleges of Physicians in London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

The Royal College of Physicians in London, which commented separately on the findings, recommends that doctors approaching retirement age should be allowed to concentrate on less intense duties such as postgraduate education, management, and specialty work, to escape from "the heavy . . . [Full text of this article]

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