Workforce census

The biennial workforce census is an important element in developing College workforce planning policy. It provides members of the College and the public with a unique view of the growth and trends in the UK paediatric workforce.

This section provides information about the current census, plans for the next, and links to previous census reports since 1999.

Workforce Census 2011

The College’s 2011 Workforce Census, was conducted online for the first time last year. We asked clinical directors to complete their census return to reflect the situation at their trust as of 30 September 2011. We aim to complete analysis of results and produce a report by early Spring 2013.

If you have any questions about the census, or you are no longer clinical director, please contact us by email or call 0207 092 6163 /6162.

Individual Census 2011

In November 2011 we conducted an individual survey of all consultant and SSASG doctors recorded in the 2009 institutional workforce census. Run alongside the 2011 institutional workforce census, it collected complementary data from individuals on the following areas:

• clinical and non-clinical work commitments
• involvement in research
• attitudes to resident shift working and retirement intentions.

Data from the survey has been used to support other work carried out by the College, including Turning the Tide: Harnessing the power of child health research and the main workforce census. The full report and a summary of the main findings are available to download below:

RCPCH medical workforce individual census 2011 (PDF, 39 pages, 440KB)

Executive summary - RCPCH medical workforce individual census 2011 (PDF, 4 pages, 32KB)

Workforce Census 2009

The main report of the census was published in March 2011 and can be downloaded using the following link: RCPCH Medical Workforce Census 2009(PDF, 3MB, 38 pages).

Main findings

• The total number of UK consultants in post was 3264 representing 5.6% annual growth since 2007  
• The number of SSASG doctors increased by 4.2% per annum to 1285
• The number of consultant academic paediatricians rose 7.3% from 164 in 2007 to 176 in 2009, but was still below levels recorded earlier in the decade
• There were 137 vacant consultant posts (4.0%)
• 3461 UK trainees were registered with the College in July 2010
• Overall there was an average of 7.9 tier 2 and 8.0 tier 1 WTE posts on each general paediatric or neonatal rota, but 14.4% of WTE posts on tier 2 and 3.8% on tier 1 were vacant
• The proportion of female consultants was 46.6%
• The proportion of consultants working less than full time was 17.8%

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.

Read the main findings from RCPCH censuses from 1999 to 2007 with links to the full reports.

Department of Health, NHS and other national census information

England

The NHS Information Centre produces its workforce statistics annually. The 2011 figures were published on 22 March 2012 and can be found in NHS Staff 2001 - 2011 (Medical and Dental).

Scotland

NHS Scotland Workforce Statistics are produced by ISD Scotland.

Wales

Information on hospital medical staff by grade and specialty in Wales can be found on the Health Statistics Wales pages of the Welsh Assembly Government website.

Northern Ireland

Details on the medical workforce in Northern Ireland is collected in the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Workforce Census 2011.

Contact

If you have any queries about the RCPCH Workforce Census please contact:

Martin McColgan, Workforce Information Officer
Telephone: 020 7092 6162

Shazia Mahmood, Workforce Assistant
Telephone: 020 7092 6163