The RCP has responded to a report by the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre on the future NHS and social care workforce.
Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said:
“The Health Foundation’s research goes to show just how urgently workforce planning and expansion needs to be addressed within the NHS and social care.
“Even before the pandemic, almost half of advertised consultant posts in England and Wales went unfilled. When COVID-19 struck, NHS and social care staff faced soaring demand for care that they struggled to meet.
“There are some very difficult choices ahead to try and reduce waiting lists and put the NHS back on a sustainable footing. But what is clear is that workforce will continue to be a key limiting factor in any plan. It must be prioritised, including by expanding medical school places, and amending the Health and Care Bill so we know if we are training enough people now to meet demand in future.”