Physician shortage worsened by cuts in job ads and lack of trainees, colleges warn

Hospital trusts have cut their advertising for consultant physicians despite the large number of vacancies, because of a lack of trainees and NHS funding, a report on UK physician numbers has warned.

The 2018 annual census of consultant and higher specialty trainee physicians was conducted by the medical workforce unit of the Royal College of Physicians of London on behalf of RCP London, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.1

The census was sent to 15 891 consultant physicians in the UK, from whom 5638 eligible responses were received (35%). It was also sent to 7363 higher specialty trainees, of whom 3018 responded (41%).

It …