Royal college demands 2000 more NHS consultant physicians

Consultant physicians are being urged to make “firm and, if necessary, vociferous” requests to secure the extra 2000 posts that their college estimates are needed to provide safe and effective care throughout England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

A college report says that there should be one consultant per 80000 population in all major medical specialties except geriatrics, where the pressures are such that there should be one consultant per 50000 patients. The report …