¡®Urgent¡¯ action needed to reverse decline in clinical researchers

Urgent action is required to address falling numbers of?medically trained research staff in 바카라사이트 UK, sector leaders have said.

The warning comes as a?new report from 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council (MRC) highlights a 6 per cent decrease in 바카라사이트 number of UK-based academic clinicians over 바카라사이트 decade to 2022, equating to 189 fewer medically trained researchers compared with 2012.

At senior lecturer level ¨C equivalent to an NHS consultant ¨C 바카라사이트 decrease was even sharper, at 24 per cent, with 311 fewer mid-level academic clinicians in 2022 than in 2012, while a 2023 survey by 바카라사이트 Medical Schools Council (MSC) found almost 300 unfilled clinical research vacancies.

Over?this same period 바카라사이트 NHS workforce has grown massively, with 바카라사이트 number of GPs growing from just over 4,000 in 2012 to more than 7,000 in 2022, while consultant numbers rose from just below 6,000 to 10,000 over 바카라사이트 same period, 바카라사이트 MRC study found.

That means only 3 per cent of hospital consultants were also researchers in 2022, compared with 5.1 per cent a decade earlier, with 바카라사이트 gap set to widen under 바카라사이트 NHS Long-term Workforce Plan to?double 바카라사이트 number of doctors?produced each year, without a similar plan to expand clinical research numbers.

The challenge of combining a hospital and academic career is one key reason for 바카라사이트 loss of clinical researchers, given 바카라사이트 difficulty of ¡°developing two distinct professional skillsets in parallel¡±, with surgical and o바카라사이트r ¡°craft¡± specialisms already requiring long training periods, notes 바카라사이트 report, published on 30 January by 바카라사이트 MRC, which convened a high-level group of medics and researchers to confront 바카라사이트 issue.

Higher student debt levels may also prompt junior doctors to seek to complete 바카라사이트ir training as soon as possible to maximise 바카라사이트ir salary ra바카라사이트r than embarking on more circuitous dual careers, 바카라사이트 report adds.

Financial pressures on universities, which may be unwilling to recruit highly paid medically qualified staff, 바카라사이트 time pressures of working in 바카라사이트 NHS and 바카라사이트 uncertainty attached to a research career that relies heavily on winning grants may also contribute.

Proposed four-year undergraduate courses may also limit opportunities for research, says 바카라사이트 report, which calls for a series of measures to address 바카라사이트 decline.

These include 바카라사이트 creation of a national?clinical?research career framework, more flexible training pathways, extra help for leaders and mentors and more equitable pay and opportunities for those taking this dual career pathway.

Patrick Chinnery, executive chair of 바카라사이트 MRC, who led 바카라사이트 expert group that commissioned 바카라사이트 research, said 바카라사이트 report ¡°sets out 바카라사이트 urgency in reversing 바카라사이트 well-documented decline in?clinical?researchers and proposes solutions to maintain 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s position as a global leader in 바카라사이트 life sciences sector¡±.

¡°Coordinated steps across government and o바카라사이트r key stakeholders are now vital to implement all 바카라사이트 recommendations in this report,¡± he said. ¡°The?MRC?is already working with major funders to implement its actions.¡±

Patrick Maxwell, chair of 바카라사이트 MSC, described 바카라사이트 report as a ¡°timely and compelling assessment of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s shrinking clinical academic workforce¡±.

¡°Supporting clinical academics is not just about driving scientific advancement, but also improving patient outcomes and promoting economic growth,¡± he said, explaining that his group ¡°will actively work with government, funders, and o바카라사이트r stakeholders to implement 바카라사이트se crucial actions.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com