Commenting upon figures made available today on the number of consultants approaching the age of 65 between now and 2020, Prof Derek Bell, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said:
“The RCPE recognises the need for safe and sustainable staffing levels throughout the NHS. We need to ensure that we continue to recruit and retain a world-class workforce to deliver the best possible patient care.
“The figures published today highlight the pressure points that exist throughout the NHS. It is important to understand where - and in which specialties - these vacancies will arise in order to address any future shortfall.
“We already know that the number of vacant consultant posts is increasing, as are posts remaining vacant for six months or more.
“With a number of consultants approaching the age of 65, there is potential for vacant positions to increase further, creating an additional burden for clinical staff who are already working in a challenging environment.”
ENDS
Contact: Lisa Rooke, RCPE - 0131 247 3688 / 07717 895628 / l.rooke@rcpe.ac.uk
Notes to Editors
