A workforce survey by the Royal College of Psychiatrists has claimed that a UK-wide shortage of psychiatrists that is forcing children with eating disorders and other troubled young people to wait longer for NHS care. The survey found that about one in 10 consultant psychiatrist posts are unfilled and the rate of vacancies has doubled in the last six years.
Prof Wendy Burn, the college’s president, said the findings were “very alarming” and raised doubts as to whether ambitious government plans to improve mental healthcare would be delivered.
Data collated by the college has found that services for those with eating disorders, under-18s with mental health issues and mothers struggling after the birth of a child are experiencing particular shortages.
Full story in The Guardian, 7 October 2019
The report summary can be found here.