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       #Post#: 106--------------------------------------------------
       Are A&E pressures due to an inadequate number/mix of staff?
       By: admini5 Date: May 12, 2015, 3:46 am
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       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
       [img width=20
       height=12]
  HTML http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/files/kf/styles/large/public/media/fte-hospital-and-community-health-service-doctors.jpg?itok=Pq30PSYz[/img]
       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:
  HTML http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/urgent-emergency-care/urgent-and-emergency-care-mythbusters
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