Current challenges facing junior doctors in the NHS: a quantitative survey
Introduction
Once a highly competitive specialty, competition rates (CR) for core medical training (CMT) have been falling since 2013. Based on CR (number of applicants received per advertised post), CMT ranked 14th out of 16 specialties in 2016. We sought to further understand and provide evidence for the endemic roots of low morale among all grades of junior doctors.
Aim
To describe and provide evidence for the current challenges facing junior doctors working in the NHS.
Methods
Junior doctor members of the RCP (n=2,033) were emailed a questionnaire link, with a cover letter explaining the goals of the study. Additionally, the link to the questionnaire was promoted through social media (Twitter), with a direct link to the survey.
Results
Descriptive
In total, 498 junior doctors completed the survey.
Patient safety
Respondents identified poor availability of out-of-hospital care as the factor with the most serious impact on patient safety. 61% of respondents reported this as having a serious or extremely serious impact on patient care.
Impact on mental and physical health
18% of respondents reported that their physical health is often adversely affected by their job (Fig 3). 25% of respondents reported that their mental health is often adversely affected by their job (Fig 3).
Feeling valued
7.8% of trainees reported feeling often or extremely valued by the chief executive of their hospital or trust. 6.7% of trainees felt often or extremely valued by their non-clinical managers. 99.2% of junior doctors felt valued by the trainees that they supervise and 96.1% felt valued by patients.
Discussion
Current working pressures and patterns are having a profound effect on the physical and mental health of junior doctors, some of whom are only at the very beginning of their career.
Conclusion
If the NHS is to attract and maintain the best staff to care for its patients, urgent steps need to be taken to value, support and motivate the junior doctors who work within it.
- © Royal College of Physicians 2017. All rights reserved.
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