RCP: NHS delivering Federation's vision of consultant-led care
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Wednesday, 01, Oct 2008 12:00
Results from the 2007 Census of Consultant Physicians from the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK shows that the Federation's vision of delivering a consultant-led acute medicine service has evolved spectacularly over the last few years. 92% of hospitals now admit acutely ill medical to a medical admissions unit rather than the general medical wards of old. The number of acute physicians continues to rise, with a 63% year-on-year increase in consultant physicians in acute medicine, far outstripping increases in other specialties.
Overall expansion in consultant physican numbers was disappointing at 4.8% (with expansion over 2 years at 3.5% per annum). Greater rates of expansion are likely to be required to deliver high quality care as aspired to in 'Consultant Physicians Working with Patients' 4th edition and to deliver NHS targets alongside the increasing demands of training.
Junior doctors' hours will fall in August 2009 to conform to the European Working Time Directive, and it is unlikely that consultant physicians will be able to increase clinical care to cover any deficit given the pressure they are under.
Dr Alistair McIntyre, Director of the Medical Workforce Unit at the Royal College of Physicians, said "Acutely ill medical patients are now not only treated faster but also more appropriately by teams of physicians working from dedicated acute medical units. The Royal College of Physicians strategy devised 8 years ago is now producing obvious benefits for patients.
Other headlines from the Census:
There are now more women physicians than men in the 34 years or
younger category, this is the first time a female majority has shown in the Census. Women outpace average workforce expansion and represent 25% of the workforce. There has been an 8.7% increase in women consultants over the past year. This is because the number of women in training has increased over the last few years.
The number of less than whole time consultant physicians has
changed little over the last 7 years though it was predicted the number would increase.
54% of consultants are already working more than the 48 hours a
week required by the European Working Time Directive. This is concerning at a time when junior doctors are expected to reduce their hours to 48 in line with EWTD in August 2009.
Consultant physicians continue to devote uncontracted time to
the NHS for the benefit of patients.
The drive towards reconfiguration has changed working practices
for physicians - 15% reported a change in workplace, 20% reported a change in job plans and 28% reported a change in workload (equal numbers reporting increases and decreases)
There is quite a wide variation in the ratio of consultant
physicians providing specialist services to the population by Strategic Health Authority. It is not known whether this affects outcomes or the patients' ability to see specialists.
For further information and to interview Dr McIntyre please contact me on the numbers below.
Linda Cuthbertson
PR Manager
Royal College of Physicians
11 St Andrews Place
Regent's Park
London NW1 4LE
Tel: 020 7935 1174 ext.254, 0794 105 7494
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