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Original research
Completion of paediatric training: trends across 2011–2017 cohorts
  1. Melody Grace Redman1,2,
  2. Davide Carzedda3,
  3. Nicola Jay3,4,
  4. Simon J Clark3,5,
  5. Marie Rogers3
  1. 1Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
  2. 2Clinical Genetics Department, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK
  3. 3Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, London, UK
  4. 4Paediatric Allergy, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
  5. 5Jessop Wing, Neonatal unit, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Melody Grace Redman, Clinical Genetics Department, Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, UK; meloredman{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Objective To determine trends in the demographics and destinations of doctors who have recently completed paediatric training in the UK.

Design A survey was sent to all new paediatric certificate holders 1 year on from completing specialty training every year from 2011 to 2017.

Setting Retrospective survey.

Outcome measures Demographics, career destinations, time to complete training, working patterns, subspecialty registration, numbers of job applications, and use of the period of grace are reported.

Results 1262 people who gained their paediatric certificate in the UK between 2011 and 2017 completed the survey (60.6% response rate). 58.5% (n=738) of respondents were female, and 32.4% (n=224) of women work less than full time, compared with 4.6% (n=23) of men. 85.9% (n=1056) of respondents were in a UK consultant post. 7.6% (n=94) were working overseas. 65.1% (n=722) remained in the region they trained in. 64.8% (n=1348) were registered for general paediatrics, whereas 35.2% (n=733) had subspecialised.

Respondents who held a non-UK medical degree (47.5%, n=501) made more job applications on average (mean=2.2; 95% CI 2.0 to 2.5) than those with a UK degree (52.5%, n=554) (mean=1.1; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.2) (p<0.001). Average training time increased from 9.8 years (95% CI 9.4 to 10.2) to 11.3 years (95% CI 11.1 to 11.6) (p<0.001). Respondents’ use of their grace period reduced from 42.7% (n=47) to 20.6% (n=29) (p<0.001).

Conclusions The data reflect the diverse paediatric workforce and doctors’ working patterns following the completion of paediatric training in the UK. The trends demonstrated are vital to consider for evidence-based workforce planning.

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https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2020-320163

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @MelodyRedman, @nic@sheffkids65

    • Contributors The raw data that had been previously collected were analysed by MGR, DC and MR for the report. The original draft was produced by MGR and all authors were involved in critical revisions.

    • Funding No direct funding was provided for this work. DC and MR are employed by RCPCH.

    • Competing interests DC and MR are employed by RCPCH. NJ is workforce officer for RCPCH. SJC is vice president of RCPCH. MGR is a member of RCPCH. MGR completed this work during her time as a leadership fellow under Health Education England working across Yorkshire and the Humber Future Leaders Programme.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Data availability statement Data are available upon reasonable request. The authors have sought to include all relevant data as a supplementary file. However, if you wish to access any further data, please contact the authors to outline your request.