BMJ  2007;334:61 (13 January), doi:10.1136/bmj.39090.709803.4E

News

Leaked report exposes mismatch in NHS staffing levels

¹ London

Huge disparities between projected numbers of NHS staff and the levels of personnel the health service actually needs—or can afford—have been shown in a government report leaked to the Health Service Journal.

The draft NHS pay and workforce strategy for 2008-11 predicts a shortfall of 14 000 nurses and 1200 GPs but a surplus of 3200 consultants by 2010.

As a partial solution the report suggests that a lower paid "sub-consultant" grade be created for doctors who have newly acquired their certificate of specialist training, but the suggestion has prompted an angry response from the BMA.

Jonathan Fielden, chairman of the BMA's consultants' committee, said: "It is absurd to suggest that the NHS in England needs fewer hospital consultants. Patients deserve the best possible care, not a dumbed down service based around a sub-consultant grade."

The document says that the NHS must brace itself for many more job losses . . . [Full text of this article]

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