Ageing workforce is putting future of medical education and research at risk, warns Medical Schools Council

The UK’s capacity to contribute to scientific research and educate medical students is at risk without investment in the clinical academic workforce, the Medical Schools Council has said.

The representative body for UK medical schools has published data showing that the clinical academic workforce is ageing, with many academics approaching retirement.1 In 2023 over a third (36%) of all UK clinical academics, doctors who undertake teaching and research alongside treating patients in the NHS, were aged over 55, as were 65% of professors. By comparison, in 2004 just 24% of all UK …