THE NHS faces a critical shortage of people to educate the next generation of doctors and nurses, the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing caution.
The recruitment of medical academics is at a record low, and soon there may not be enough to provide an adequate education to the UK’s rising number of medical students, the report, Medical Academic Career Intentions, says this week
It says that most young doctors who began their careers in 1995 have never considered careers in teaching and research. Only a quarter of the 473 doctors had ever considered a future in teaching or research. The main deterrents are financial disincentives, lack of clear career structure and the absence of advice or support.
The report says that more flexible working patterns would encourage doctors not to leave academic jobs, and recommends more academic activity in both the NHS and higher education.
Meanwhile, there is a critical shortage of nurses to mentor newly qualified colleagues, says Nursing Standard (Aug 25).
Advertisement
The Nursing and Midwifery Council has proposed that all new nurses be required to complete an extra year’s foundation training on wards, under a mentor’s supervision. But the RCN cautions that there is “nowhere near enough suitably qualified members to make the idea a reality”, says Nursing Standard.
www.bma.org.uk/careerintentions