Previous censuses

The RCPCH (as the BPA) undertook its first census of the paediatric workforce in 1986 and has completed a biennial census since 1999.

The main findings from RCPCH censuses from 1999 to 2007 are set out below with links to the full documents offering an opportunity to review changes in the paediatric workforce over the years. 

Developing the Workforce for Children: Workforce Census 2007

• The census shows the total number of UK consultants in post growing to 2925 in 2007 with 7.4% (3.6% growth per annum) from 2005.
• The career grade workforce overall however, increased by only 2.3% in the same period.
• The number of SASG doctors continues to fall, by 4.2% per annum.
• The census also records a fourth successive decline in the size of the paediatric academic workforce and a fall in the community career grade workforce.
• The proportion of female consultants grew to 46.0% in 2007 from 43.6% in 2005, and the proportion of women in the total career grade workforce rose marginally.

Workforce Census 2007(PDF, 16KB, 78p)

A Changing Workforce: Workforce Census 2005

Workforce Census 2005: Executive Summary(PDF, 204KB, 4p)

Supporting Services for Children: Workforce Census 2003

• UK Consultant annual growth rate was 7.3%
• Trust grade doctors increased from 94 in 2001 to 241 in 2003, a rise of 156%
• 7.4% of consultant posts in community trusts were vacant.

Supporting Services for Children: Workforce Census 2003(PDF, 514KB, 53p)

Supporting Services for Children: Workforce Census 2003 - Summary(PDF, 159KB, 3p)

Providing a Service for Children: Workforce Census 2001

• Part time working for consultants rose to 15.4%
• 76.3% of consultants exceeded 48 hours per week
• 10% decline in the academic workforce since 1999

Providing a Service for Children - Workforce Census 2001(PDF, 661KB, 62p)

Workforce Census 2001 Executive Summary(PDF, 31KB, 5p)

Workforce Census 1999: A Basis for Future Planning

• An increase of 298 consultants from 1635 in 1996, approximately 5.7% per annum for the whole of the UK.
• A fall of 15.7% or 4.2% per annum of Non Consultant Career Grade Doctors due to reductions in the numbers of SCMO and CMO grades.

Workforce Census 1999 - A Basis for Future Planning(PDF, 532KB, 52p)