A survey of clinical academic staffing in paediatrics and child health in the UK

Background: The state of academic paediatrics in the United Kingdom is a source of anxiety in view of anecdotal reports of loss of identity within medical schools and reductions in staffing levels. Aims: To measure the current numbers and recent changes in clinical academic staff in all university d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of disease in childhood 2005-05, Vol.90 (5), p.450-453
Main Authors: Levene, M, Olver, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
academic
Academic Medical Centers - manpower
Beliefs, opinions and attitudes
Child
Child Health
Child health services
Child Welfare
Childrens health
Committees
Councils
Dental Schools
Departments
Discipline
Education, Medical, Undergraduate
Evaluation
FTE
Full Time Equivalency
full time equivalent
Funding
Humans
Labor Force
Medical School Faculty
Medical schools
medical staffing
Medicine
National Health Service
NHS
Numbers
Original
Pediatric research
Pediatrics - education
Pediatrics - manpower
Pediatrics - trends
RAE
Recruitment
research assessment exercise
Research Training
Schools
Scientists
Surveys
Tenure
undergraduate teaching
United Kingdom
Universities - manpower
Universities - trends
Workforce planning
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Summary:Background: The state of academic paediatrics in the United Kingdom is a source of anxiety in view of anecdotal reports of loss of identity within medical schools and reductions in staffing levels. Aims: To measure the current numbers and recent changes in clinical academic staff in all university departments of paediatrics in the UK. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all 24 university departments of paediatrics where undergraduates are taught, and to the postgraduate institute of paediatrics. Results: Full responses were obtained from 24 medical institutions. In the past five years there has been an overall 7.2% decline in clinical academic staff, but among lecturers there has been a 26% reduction. Nine of 24 departments had undergone changes in name with at least some loss of paediatric identity. In 12 of 24 centres it was felt that the research assessment exercise had resulted in some, or severe, detriment. Conclusions: This study confirms the recent loss of academic training positions, leading to a serious concern about the future of academic paediatrics in some UK centres.
ISSN:0003-9888
1468-2044
DOI:10.1136/adc.2004.050286