Workforce numbers ‘do not show true picture of consultant crisis in NI'

iStock/Jacob Wackerhausen

By Daniel Pye

The latest workforce statistics masks the consultant recruitment crisis, doctors have told the Northern Ireland Department of Health.

As of the end of June, the total health and social care (HSC) workforce in the devolved nation was 68,110 whole-time equivalent (WTE), representing an increase of 1.7% on the previous year and a 7.9% increase since June 2021.

But the British Medical Association (BMA) has said the latest statistics “fall short of painting a true picture of the consultant workforce crisis”.

In June, consultants went on a 24-hour strike with specialty, associate specialist and specialty doctors over pay – which doctors say is stifling recruitment.

Dr David Farren, chair of BMA Northern Ireland consultants committee, said although the HSC statistics tell us overall workforce numbers have slightly increased, consultant vacancies have risen by 9.7% compared to last year and 50.5% since March 2019.

Consultants now have the second highest vacancy rate (7.8%) in the entire Northern Ireland NHS behind social workers (12.9%), he said.