Introduction
The results of the Annual Census of
Psychiatric Staffing for 2007 are now available
The 2007 census covers England, Wales and
Northern Ireland. Scotland carries out its own census, which is
available from the Scottish Division of the College.
The return rate from trusts was higher than
ever at nearly 95%, with 90 out of 95 trusts responding and I am
very grateful for their co-operation. However, 3 of the trusts
missing include 2 very large trusts in North West England, and one
large Northern Ireland organisation. In the tables which follow,
results from previous years from these trusts have been put in to
bring the figures up to 100% for comparison with the 2006 census.
However, the absence of these returns is a concern and does
introduce another source of inaccuracy in the results.
Headlines
- The growth in consultant posts appears generally to have come
to an end
- There is still a significant use of locums to cover vacancies,
but 70% of them are long term (in post for more than a year) and it
remains to be seen whether the use of the CESR (Certificate of
Eligibility for Specialist Registration) route makes any impact of
figures.
- At the request of the Workforce Review Team, we included
questions about retirement plans of consultants but the number of
trusts providing this information (53%) was insufficient to provide
robust data. Similar questions about MHO status of the workforce
were not answered. This is probably because such information and
that on retirement plans is not readily available to the
individuals, usually in Human Resources Departments completing the
census. As trusts become ever larger, this problem is likely to be
compounded although it should be in trusts interests to have an
accurate profile of their consultant workforce for future
planning.
- There has been a modest increase in the number of foundation
year 1 posts compared with 2006 and a more encouraging increase in
the number of foundation year two posts, from 205 to 308. This
though may have come about because of conversion of SHO posts to
foundation year 2 posts as part of the MMC changes.
- This census covered the first year of MMC. As for consultants,
we were missing returns from 5 trusts so the results reported are
for the 90 trusts only. The figures are therefore lower than those
available from Deaneries and Heads of Schools. Notable features are
that overall for ST1-ST3 levels around 20% of the training
opportunities are FTSTA and not run through training. At ST1,
significantly more women than men were appointed, at ST2 men were
more numerous, and at ST3 the sex distinction was more even. This
ST1 sex ratio, if repeated in 2008 and 2009, may be significant in
terms of the likely future participation rates, the measure of how
many doctors are working less than full time.
- The numbers of Specialty Doctors, both Staff Grades and
Associate Specialists, continues to increase by over 10% in a year
(and as the numbers reported this year are the figures only for the
trusts returning data, this is likely to be an underestimate). With
the introduction of the new contract for SAS Doctors, and the final
opportunity for re-grading to Associate Specialist before the grade
closed having now passed, it will be interesting in the 2009 census
to explore further the skills level in this very significant sector
of the medical psychiatric workforce.
I am indebted to Kate Holliday and Charlotte
Cox, Workforce Managers from the Professional Standards Department
at the College, for their tireless work in chasing up trusts and
collating the returns. Thanks are also due to Medical Directors and
Human Resources Managers for the time they have given to this task.
The data continue to be a very valuable tool for the profession in
negotiations on workforce issues with government departments,
trusts and the NHS Confederation Mental Health Network. The College
looks forward to the continuing co-operation of all parties in the
2009 census which should go out for completion on 30 November
2009.
We welcome any comments or questions which
should be in the first instance directed towards Charlotte Cox.
Sally Pidd
Former Associate Dean – Workforce
Page last updated 11 August 2009