The three UK royal colleges of physicians – the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow – have launched the latest in a series of joint briefing papers calling on assembly members to return to Stormont, form a new Executive and approve a multi-year budget for health and care.
Launched during an event hosted by the royal colleges at Stormont, The doctors behind the debate reveals that in Northern Ireland:
- 64% of consultant physicians report vacant consultant posts
- 71% of consultant physicians report daily or weekly trainee rota gaps
- 74% of consultant physicians feel that rota gaps are having a negative impact on patient care
- 82% of consultant physicians routinely work above their contracted hours
- 59% of consultant physicians working full time would like to reduce their hours
- only 25% of consultant physicians feel in control of their workload
- 57% of consultant physicians say that they have an excessive workload almost always or most of the time
- 35% of consultant physicians say that they work excessive hours.
RCP president Dr Sarah Clarke will visit Stormont to meet with assembly members across the political spectrum and discuss the challenges facing the Northern Ireland health and care service. She will be joined by more than 30 clinicians from across the region, including Dr Aidan O’Neill, RCP NI lead fellow and chair of the NI medical royal colleges group, and Dr Albert McNeill of the RCPE.
The briefing paper makes more than 50 recommendations aimed at improving staff retention and wellbeing at Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI). It also sets out the detailed Northern Ireland findings from the 2022 UK census of consultant physicians, providing fresh insight into the demographics and mindset of senior doctors in the region. It warns that 38% of consultant physicians are expected to reach their intended retirement age within the next decade, which is likely to remove more than 200 doctors from the medical workforce by 2032. Without enough doctors in training staying in Northern Ireland to replace them, workforce shortages will continue to worsen, leading to even tougher working conditions.
Welcoming the launch of the new briefing paper, Dr Aidan O’Neill, RCP NI lead fellow said:
‘It is difficult to remember a more uncertain time for health and social care in Northern Ireland. I'm afraid to say the findings from the 2022 census of consultant physicians paint a grim picture of frequent rota gaps, unfilled consultant vacancies and excessive workloads. For the sake of everyone in the region – especially those waiting for diagnosis or treatment – we need our elected representatives to show leadership. As doctors, we are passionate about providing excellent patient care, and in this new briefing, we've provided some ideas for how trusts could improve staff retention and wellbeing, helping the medical workforce to thrive, care, learn and feel valued.’
The three UK royal colleges of physicians are charities committed to the development and delivery of the highest possible standards of patient care in the UK and beyond. We work together to deliver postgraduate training, assessment and continuing medical education in the UK and we advocate on behalf of patients and our fellows and members, campaigning for improvements in patient care and public health. Together we represent around 50,000 physicians worldwide, including around 1,000 fellows and members in Northern Ireland. Our collaborative approach reflects shared concerns about the challenges facing healthcare in Northern Ireland.