A brief analysis of GMC workforce report 2024
Summary of focus on SAS Doctors in the SoMEP Workforce Report 2024
Key Highlights: Read the full report here
- Role and Composition:
- SAS (Specialty and Associate Specialist) doctors are not on the GP or specialist registers and occupy a crucial segment of the UK medical workforce.
- In 2023, SAS doctors represented 18% of doctors on neither the GP nor specialist register who are not in training in England and Wales
- Workforce Trends:
- Between 2019 and 2023, the number of SAS doctors in England and Wales increased by 19%
- SAS doctors often fill critical roles but lack the progression opportunities found in formal training pathways.
- International Graduates:
- The majority of SAS doctors (81%) in England and Wales are international medical graduates, emphasizing their importance in sustaining the NHS workforce
- Challenges:
- SAS roles often lack structured career development pathways, risking stagnation and dissatisfaction among these doctors.
- The report stresses the need for better recognition of their skills and contributions through equitable career progression options
- Retention and Job Satisfaction:
- Tailored initiatives are required to enhance job satisfaction and long-term retention of SAS doctors, who frequently take on significant clinical responsibilities
- Growth Drivers:
- The overall growth in this group is primarily due to the increasing number of internationally trained doctors joining the NHS
Recommendations:
- Integration and Inclusion: Develop comprehensive induction and support programs tailored for SAS doctors, particularly international graduates.
- Career Pathways: Create formal structures to support career advancement, enabling SAS doctors to progress into training or leadership roles.
- Recognition: Acknowledge and formalize the contributions of SAS doctors to improve morale and workforce stability
Published on GMC Website
The UK risks wasting the talents of tens of thousands of overlooked and undervalued doctors, to the detriment of patient care, General Medical Council (GMC) Chief Executive Charlie Massey warns in a report out today.
The warning comes as new data in the medical regulator’s The state of medical education and practice in the UK: workforce report 2024 highlights the changing nature of the country’s medical workforce. Read more
“Without changing the way we think about training, the UK risks sleepwalking into a situation where these doctors are overlooked and undervalued, to the detriment of good patient care”
Charlie Massey
