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News

Is it possible to recruit 21 000 extra staff for mental health services?

BMJ 2017; 358 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j3880 (Published 15 August 2017) Cite this as: BMJ 2017;358:j3880

Rapid Response:

Re: Is it possible to recruit 21 000 extra staff for mental health services?

Given the BMJ quote that 'psychiatry is currently the speciality with the highest number of unfilled training posts at 35%', is it time to consider whether consultants can come from a non-medical background akin to the model adapted in Public Health? Psychology has long been one of the top ten most popular degree choices, and a career path from this to Consultant Psychiatrist might be possible if planned well?

Competing interests: No competing interests

18 August 2017
M. Justin S. Zaman
Consultant Cardiologist
James Paget University Hospital
Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, UK