The British Medical Association (BMA) have released a report on consultant workforce shortages and solutions.
Their report looks into the issues facing the consultant workforce and what actions need to be taken by the Government and employers, now and in the future, to ensure consultants are retained in the NHS. It contains information on the steps employers can, and should, take now as well as a deep-dive into the pressures facing the consultant workforce and short, medium and long-term solutions with case studies.
The BMA say "The NHS workforce faces a perfect storm of consultants choosing to retire earlier, a significant proportion approaching retirement age and a growing trend of younger doctors walking away from their career.
COVID-19 added significant additional pressure on the workforce with doctors working long hours, in new settings, whilst risking their own lives. Now the NHS is facing a growing backlog of unmet need on top of the existing staffing and resourcing shortages."