The NHS is ‘woefully unprepared’ to cope with England’s rapidly ageing population, senior doctors have warned.
New figures reveal that England has one full-time geriatrician to care for every 8,031 older people, with huge disparity across the country.
Analysis of NHS and Office for National Statistics data shows that the east Midlands has one geriatrician caring for more than 12,500 over-65s, while the north-east and central London, the figure is one per 3,254.
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) said the shortage meant that England was “sleepwalking into an avoidable crisis of care for older people.”
Dr Andrew Goddard, the president of the RCP, said:
“I have dedicated my career to working in the NHS – a service that I am fiercely proud of – and yet it scares me to wonder what might happen should I need care as I get older.
“There simply aren’t enough doctors to go round, not least within geriatrics.”
There could be as many as 17 million over-65s by 2040, estimates suggest. However, 48 per cent of consultant geriatricians are due to retire within the next decade.
The RCP is among 100 organisations calling for a change in the health and care bill that would require MPs to publish regular assessments of the numbers of staff in the NHS and social care system.
Goddard said:
“The workforce crisis we’re facing is largely down to an astonishing lack of planning.
“All successful organisations rely on long-term workforce planning to meet demand and it’s absurd that we don’t do this for the NHS and social care system.
“The government needs to … make workforce planning a priority.”
Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers and deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said:
“Sajid Javid’s recent commissioning of a workforce strategy is a very welcome step, but as the government’s health and care bill continues through parliament, we would urge the government to accept amendments requiring the health secretary to publish regular, independent assessments of the numbers of staff the NHS and social care system need now and in future.”
