We recognise this year is unique, which is why we are supporting trainees as much as possible in finding the right roles across all professions, including additional recruitment rounds and more flexibility for applicants. She added: “The number of posts available is in line with previous years and, as always at this stage of recruitment, there remain those who do not have posts yet. Professor Wendy Reid, medical director for HEE, said the 697 figure was “speculation”, despite the fact the final number of places available will not change. In intensive care medicine, posts increased from 139 to 171 over the same period. HEE data shows it reduced the number of anaesthesia training posts for registrars from 315 in 2017 to 256 this year. Most training posts are funded by HEE, but it has had its budget held flat since 2015. To try and cut costs in education and training is a very short-sighted strategy, which is coming to a head at the moment.”ĭue to shortages for anaesthetists, many hospitals have now opted to fund their own non-training posts to ensure gaps are filled and the safety of patients is maintained. Doctor Wherever ‘doctor’ is used in these terms and conditions, it is intended to mean a doctor or dentist in an approved postgraduate training programme under the auspices of HEE. “There has been massive funding pressure on the NHS, and a lot of that pressure has been on education and training which is absolutely vital for the continued supply of doctors.
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There are now a record 4.7 million patients waiting for routine hospital treatment, including more than 350,000 who have waited more than a year.ĭr Johannsson added: “The Royal College of Anaesthetists has been having honest, open and frank conversations with Health Education England and the government about workforce for several years, but clearly these need to continue and intensify if the anaesthetic supply line is going to be managed effectively in the next few years. In its latest workforce census, the RCOA found that 90 per cent of departments across England had at least one consultant vacancy, equivalent to 1,410 anaesthetists or 1 million patient operations a year that might be delayed.