Gastroenterology manpower: what are the future job prospects for gastroenterology trainees?

摘要

There are over 1100 gastroenterology consultants and approximately 600 higher specialist trainees in the UK in 2012. The speciality has expanded considerably over the past 20 years but will need to expand further over the next 10 years to accommodate those completing training. There is an undoubted need for expansion due to increased demand from an ageing population, cancer screening and an increasing burden of liver disease. However, the UK economy and changes in the way that workforce planning will be made over the next few years will determine whether such expansion occurs. There is accumulating evidence that getting a substantive post in gastroenterology is getting harder and that some trainees are taking up new types of post-training posts.