Northern Ireland’s most senior psychiatrists have warned of a continuing workforce crisis after new figures reveal more than a quarter of consultant posts are ‘effectively vacant’.
The data comes from the latest workforce census by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which gathered information in 2025 from all five health trusts in NI.
The survey found 29% of consultant posts are either vacant or covered by locum doctors, meaning more than a quarter of roles are not filled by permanent staff. That is up from 25% in 2023.
The census also highlights pressures among specialty and specialist (SAS) psychiatrists – who are experienced senior doctors who work alongside consultants.
There were 79 SAS psychiatrist posts across Northern Ireland in March 2025, but only 52 were filled by permanent doctors. The remaining posts were either vacant or filled by temporary staff, meaning around one in three (34%) SAS roles are not permanently staffed, up from around three in ten (29%) in 2023.
The College said the staffing pressures come at a time when demand for mental health care is increasing.
It also warned that Northern Ireland still receives less funding per person for mental health services than other parts of the UK.
There are also concerns that the pressure on services is unclear because the Department of Health does not routinely publish mental health waiting list data.
Dr Julie Anderson, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Northern Ireland, said:
“These figures show the true scale of the workforce pressures facing mental health services in Northern Ireland.
“They also highlight how increasingly difficult it is for mental health services to provide consistent, high-quality care for our patients, especially at a time when we’re being asked to do more and more with less, as a result of various initiatives.
“Behind these numbers are people – some of them vulnerable – who are waiting far too long for the support they so desperately need.
“Mental illness often starts earlier in life than many physical health conditions, and without effective treatment it can become chronic and increase the risk of later physical illness. However, early intervention improves outcomes for individuals and can reduce future pressure on health services.
“Northern Ireland has historically faced years of chronic underfunding and despite having a greater mental health need, we continue to receive less funding than other parts of the UK.
“At the same time, we still don’t have comprehensive regional data on mental health waiting lists, meaning the true scale of unmet need remains very unclear.
“Its clear things need to change – everyone should be working together to secure solutions to this continuing workforce crisis.”
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
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