Census highlights consultant vacancies
The College has published the latest workforce census results, revealing a worrying trend of growing consultant vacancies in the sector.
The census, conducted biennially by the Training and Workforce Unit in collaboration with the RCPsych Data Team, provides a detailed analysis of the psychiatric consultant and specialty doctor workforce across the UK at a given point in time.
The overall response rate of 64% was the lowest in a number of years but is slightly mitigated by the fact more acute trusts were consulted than ever before.
While the lower response rate makes it difficult to compare with data from previous years, it does still highlight a worrying trend with regard to consultant and SAS vacancies.
Respondents reported a total of 963 vacant or unfilled consultant posts in 2023, which is:
- 32.6% greater than 2021 (726),
- 36.0% greater than 2019 (708)
- 79.3% greater than 2017 (537).
The percentage of vacant consultant posts in 2023 was 15.8%, an increase of 6.5% since 2021 (9.3%).
A total of 361 SAS posts were reported vacant or unfilled in 2023, which is:
- 13.9% greater than 2021 (317)
- 66.4% greater than 2017 (217).
The proportion of vacant SAS posts in 2023 was 19.2%, an increase of 6.6% over the past two years from 12.6% in 2021.
In England, a total of 36 of 50 mental health trusts (72%) returned data, although 49 trusts participated in some way, while in Scotland, 11 of the 14 (79%) regional health boards participated, as well as the State Hospital Board for Scotland and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.
In Northern Ireland, four out of five (80%) of health and social care trusts participated while only two of the seven Welsh (28.6%) local health boards participated.
The collection of the data took place between April and November 2023.
Our ‘true vacancy’ (reported vacancies plus locum appointments) analysis was also revealing, showing a substantive vacancy rate of 30.3% in relation to SAS posts, and 28.6% relating to consultant posts.
For the first time, we surveyed private and independent psychiatrists individually and we are keen to note our thanks to those that responded. We also included locally employed doctors for the first time in the census report and hope we can bolster the data for both these groups over time, to provide meaningful insight into vacancy rates.
The full census report, with specialty and regional as well as national breakdowns can be read on our workforce census page.