Royal College of Surgeons Workforce Census at BAOMS Annual Scientific Meeting
03 July 2024 (Last updated: 3 Jul 2024 14:10)
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The 2024 BAOMS Annual Scientific Meeting has a central focus on patients, but we also welcome Mr William Allum, RCS Council Member to talk us through the results of the 2023 Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) Workforce census. Mr Allum/William will present the findings across the census’ three themes: demographics, job planning and work conditions and wellbeing. He will share specific data relating to oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
The survey asked the UK surgical workforce to identify the key challenges facing surgical teams and to inform workforce planning. It received over 6,000 responses from consultants, surgeons in training, Specialist, Associate Specialist and Specialty (SAS) surgeons, Locally Employed Doctors in surgery and members of the extended surgical team.
William Allum says: “The responses gave us an awful lot of information, some of which we knew but now we have data to back it up. We did learn some specifics about oral and maxillofacial surgery - in part reflecting that most specialists have both a medical and dental degree which has a significant impact on cost and time spent training. In terms of demographics, early career consultants in the field are 5-8 years older than their peers in other specialities. And in terms of retention, with a significant number now approaching retirement, there is a potential pipeline issue with low numbers of trainee oral and maxillofacial surgeons.”
He will share data on changing trends for the specialism, including increasing amounts of medicine in maxillofacial dentistry alongside surgical demands, and concerns about workforce wellbeing that occur because of changing ways of work.
As part of the survey, respondents were asked to assign their top priorities from a list including: burnout and stress, pay and pensions, conflict between clinical and managerial priorities, access to theatre, conditions of work, systems challenges, recruitment and retention, time to train, culture and environment, and more. RCS found five priorities to be consistent across disciplines: burnout and stress; access to theatre; pay and pensions; working conditions; and, relationships with management. There are a series of recommendations.
William and colleagues are looking at a working plan which considers productivity, sustainability and wellbeing. He says: “We have evidence to show where the problems are for the UK surgical workforce, and this includes specifics to maxillofacial surgery. We are now going through the data to work out how to respond to it and what solutions to propose. I look forward to a robust discussion with oral and maxillofacial specialists this week as we talk through and they are able to share their thoughts on some of the recommendations we are developing.”
- Mr William Allum will deliver the keynote on the morning of Thursday 4 July
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