The state of medical education and practice in the UK

The workforce report 2022

Source: The King’s Fund Health Management and Policy Alert

This report finds that the number of doctors joining the workforce overall has grown by around 17 per cent over the past five years, but that growth is not consistent. It varies considerably between different groups of doctors, leaving a shortfall in primary care that puts at risk patients’ ability to access GP services. The number of specialty and associate specialty (SAS) and locally employed (LE) doctors on the GMC register has increased at six times the rate of GPs, largely driven by doctors coming from overseas. Current rules actively prevent these doctors from working in areas such as primary care, and the GMC is proposing the government change the Performers List criteria to allow more doctors to work in general practice.

Caring for the mental health of the medical workforce

British Medical Association, April 2019
This report provides a summary of findings from a large-scale survey into the mental health of doctors and medical students. The survey, which was open to BMA members and non-members across the UK received over 4,300 responses. Four in ten respondents to our survey reported currently experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, burnout, stress, emotional distress or a mental health condition that is impacting on their work, training or study.
Click here to view the full report.

Barriers and enablers for clinicians moving into senior leadership roles: Review report

Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management, November 2018
This report sets out the findings of a review carried out by the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM). Finds some common themes emerged between the professions, fundamental differences were also evident. Most people highlighted progression to senior leadership was rarely promoted as a legitimate career pathway as part of training programmes and even where programmes exist, such as the National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellowship scheme, these are not recognised as part of specialty training. Most felt the skills and competences for senior leadership, especially chief executive, are not always clear and there is a need to identify and develop leadership talent in a more structured way than is currently the case. In general, there is a lack of data about the backgrounds and qualifications of senior leaders in the NHS.
Click here to view the full report.

Supporting organisations engaging with locums and doctors in short-term placements: A practical guide for healthcare providers, locum agencies and revalidation management services

NHS England, October 2018
This guidance is for any individual or organisation engaging with locum and short-term placement doctors, who often do not have easy access to to systems or structures in place to support their CPD, appraisal, revalidation and governance. This guidance highlights ways they may be supported to provide safe provision of healthcare as a valuable part of the workforce.
Click here to view the full report.

Supporting locums and doctors in short-term placements: A practical guide for doctors in these roles

NHS England, October 2018
This guidance is for locum and short-term placement doctors, who often do not have easy access to systems or structures in place to support their CPD, appraisal, revalidation and governance. This guidance highlights ways they may be supported to provide safe provision of healthcare as a valuable part of the workforce.
Click here to view the full report.

What could make a difference to the mental health of UK doctors?: A review of the research evidence –

Society of Occupational Medicine, October 2018
Report that finds the incidence of mental health problems among doctors is increasing alongside the growing demands and diminishing resources experienced in the healthcare sector. GPs, trainee and junior doctors appear to be particularly vulnerable, experiencing distress and burnout early in their career.  The stigma associated with disclosing mental health problems and ‘a failure to cope’ revealed in the report mean that many doctors are reluctant to seek help as they fear sanctions and even job loss.
Click here to view the full report.