Home
Forum
Search
Calendar
Arcade
Login
Register
Posted by: Laxmikant Tyagi
« on: May 12, 2015, 09:46:13 am »Staffing issues are a factor in pressures on A&E departments. The College of Emergency Medicine reports that, for the past three years, only 50 per cent of higher specialist emergency medicine training posts have been filled, resulting in a 'lost cohort' of more than 200 potential consultants. It argues that trainees are opting out of emergency medicine due to the 'intensity of work, unsociable hours and working conditions'. This adds to the pressures on those in post, creating a vicious circle of overwork and low morale, which exacerbates recruitment difficulties.
However, the total number of A&E doctors has increased over the past 10 years, with about 77 per cent more A&E doctors in 2013 than in 2002, compared to 49 per cent more doctors in all other specialties.
Figure 5: Full-time equivalent (FTE) of hospital and community health service (HCHS) doctors with emergency medicine specialty and all other specialties, 2002 to 2013
However, the College of Emergency Medicine recommends a minimum number of 10 full-time equivalent consultants for every emergency department to ensure a consultant presence for up to 16 hours a day. Last year, the House of Commons Health Committee reported that A&E departments were able to cover 12 hours a day for 77 per cent of the time on weekdays, and for 30 per cent of the time at weekends.
The real issue is not just the total number of staff, but having the right combination of staff available at the right time, particularly consultants.
For further information: http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/urgent-emergency-care/urgent-and-emergency-care-mythbusters
However, the total number of A&E doctors has increased over the past 10 years, with about 77 per cent more A&E doctors in 2013 than in 2002, compared to 49 per cent more doctors in all other specialties.
Figure 5: Full-time equivalent (FTE) of hospital and community health service (HCHS) doctors with emergency medicine specialty and all other specialties, 2002 to 2013
However, the College of Emergency Medicine recommends a minimum number of 10 full-time equivalent consultants for every emergency department to ensure a consultant presence for up to 16 hours a day. Last year, the House of Commons Health Committee reported that A&E departments were able to cover 12 hours a day for 77 per cent of the time on weekdays, and for 30 per cent of the time at weekends.
The real issue is not just the total number of staff, but having the right combination of staff available at the right time, particularly consultants.
For further information: http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/urgent-emergency-care/urgent-and-emergency-care-mythbusters