Hospitals hit by junior doctor shortage

May 1 2008 by Madeleine Brindley, South Wales Echo

WALES’ largest hospital is facing a major junior doctor shortage which could jeopardise patient services.

The Echo has learned that Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust is struggling to fill vital junior doctor posts.

It is understood there are at least 10 vacancies, including locum posts.

And a further 12 non-consultant grade posts have not been filled, eight of which are in A&E.

A memo leaked to the Echo reveals that the trust, which runs the University Hospital of Wales, is experiencing “very real difficulties” recruiting junior doctors.

Doctors’ leaders said junior doctors do not believe that Wales, including Cardiff, is an attractive place to work or train.

Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary of the British Medical Association, pictured, said: “We have to ensure that we are creating attractive career opportunities otherwise we will see that jobs are not being taken up in NHS trusts across Wales.”

The memo, to all clinical directors at Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, from Angela Rackham, the trust’s medical personnel manager, said: “The bottom line is that, at the present time, we are having very little response to any of our requests or advertisements for doctors – whether on a long-term or a short-term basis.”

Another report seen by the Echo revealed that some NHS trusts have had to close services temporarily and doctors are working more than 56 hours a week, breaching the interim European Working Time Directive rules.

There are fears within the health service that many of these junior doctor posts will still be vacant in August, when hundreds of medical students will have graduated.

Trust human resources director Judith Hardisty said: “Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust is one of many Trusts across the country facing a shortage of junior doctors to fill some vacancies.”

But a Welsh Assembly Government spokesman refuted the notion of a crisis. He said: “Your allegation that Wales cannot attract junior doctors is completely wrong. The recent recruitment round for junior doctors in Wales – which is yet to be completed – has so far achieved a fill rate of 86%. This equates to 474 of the 552 post available.

“This figure compares favourably to the other UK countries.”

He added: “We are aware of some recruitment difficulties at one or two organisations, but this does not represent a general problem across Wales.”

Blow for patients as doctor crisis bites

Page 2: National Assembly "what crisis?"