NHS speciality training hopes to address worsening GP shortfall
The new data shows that 7894 doctors accepted posts with a fill rate of 99.7 per cent for posts starting in August 2022, which is positive news for patients and the NHS. The data include recruitment for posts in England, across all medical specialities.
The announcement comes following warnings from the Health Foundation that the shortage of qualified, permanent GPs is set to worsen significantly over the coming decade. The Health Foundation’s REAL Centre find that the current shortfall of around 4,200 full-time equivalent GPs in England could rise to as many as 10,700 GPs by 2030/31.
The government has a target of hiring an additional 6,000 PGs by 2023/24 relative to 2018/19, and although they appear on track to achieve half this number, the REAL Centre estimates that the majority of this increase will be attributable to higher numbers of GP trainees and locums.
Recruitment for posts starting from August this year is now complete, but the next round opens in July, offering further training posts starting in January 2022. Applicants who did not get the training post they wanted are encouraged to meet with their medical supervisors locally for advice and support about their immediate next steps, which may include locally funded Trust training posts, or Specialty and Associate Specialist doctor posts, as well as applying for further recruitment rounds.
Professor Wendy Reid, HEE Director of Education and Quality and Executive Medical Director commented that “for the fifth year in a row we have excellent fill rates across all our medical specialties. This means we will be training more doctors which is good news for patients, the NHS and the profession.
“It is encouraging to see a continued rise in the number of doctors who are keen to join the NHS though this does mean higher competition for posts. We work closely with partners in Trusts, the Royal Colleges and the BMA to support those doctors who were not successful this time so they can review the available options.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “We’re doing everything we can to bust the Covid backlogs and reduce waiting times for patients. A record 7,800 doctors accepting a place on NHS specialty training, from emergency medicine to cancer specialists, means people will be treated more quickly.
“I am hugely grateful for the record numbers of doctors, nurses and healthcare staff working hard across the NHS to ensure patients get the care they need when they need it.”