The RCP has been regularly surveying its members during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighting their concerns to government and others.
Our surveys have covered everything from access to PPE and having the right equipment to deliver video consultations, to feelings of exhaustion and low morale. They have helped us understand the challenges that physicians and the wider NHS workforce have had to face at different stages of the pandemic.
We have highlighted these challenges in the media, and with policymakers in the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England. That has helped solve some of the problems, but many will remain for some time.
We will therefore keep asking our members how things are going as we continue to deal with the backlog of care. In the meantime, below are links to the survey results and a summary of the key findings from each.
- COVID-19 and its impact on NHS workforce
The first survey of RCP fellows and members demonstrates the impact that COVID-19 has had on the NHS workforce.
- Tracking the impact of COVID-19 on the workforce
The second survey of RCP fellows and members shows fewer are taking time off work but problems with PPE and testing persist.
- What are we learning from the workforce about the impacts of COVID-19?
The third survey of RCP fellows and members shows the impact COVID-19 continues to have on the NHS workforce, with access to PPE remaining a problem.
- COVID-19 and the workforce – what we’ve learned
The fourth survey of RCP fellows and members shows just how flexible the NHS workforce has been.
- COVID-19 and the workforce: returning to normal with concerns about patients
The fifth survey of RCP fellows and members shows that doctors are concerned for patients as practice and rotas return to normal.
- COVID-19 and the workforce: ready and waiting
The sixth survey of RCP fellows and members shows that most doctors are at work, generally feel prepared for the second wave and can access the tests they need. But problems do remain.
- COVID-19 and the workforce: facing the second wave
The seventh survey of RCP fellows and members shows that the vast majority of doctors are concerned about the impact of the second wave on their hospital’s ability to deliver effective care.
- COVID-19 and the workforce: the impact of the second wave
The eighth survey of RCP fellows and members shows that that despite the positive news about vaccinations, the pressures placed on doctors by the pandemic are taking a significant toll.
- COVID-19 and the workforce: the tail end of the second wave
The ninth survey of RCP fellows and members during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that while morale appears to have slightly improved, physicians who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic are now in urgent need of rest and recuperation.
- COVID-19 and the workforce: the long path to recovery
The tenth survey of RCP members and fellows during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that although life is returning to some semblance of normality for physicians, long backlogs are expected.
- COVID-19 and the workforce: a desire for flexible working to become the norm
Our eleventh survey of RCP members and fellows during the COVID-19 pandemic shows the radical change to working practices that physicians have experienced.
- COVID-19 and the workforce: looking for signs of hope
The twelfth survey of RCP members and fellows during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted as more of the population returns to normality and winter is on the horizon.
- COVID-19 and the workforce: growing absences increase the pressure
Our thirteenth survey of RCP members and fellows during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that absence due to illness is rising, particularly in London.
- COVID-19 and the workforce: filling gaps, feeling overwhelmed
Our fourteenth survey of RCP members and fellows during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that absence is now falling, but it follows a period in which most felt overwhelmed on at least one occasion. The available workforce remains the key factor, with the majority being asked to cover for colleagues at short notice.