Medical registrars in 2010: experience and expectations of the future consultant physicians of the UK

Abstract

In 2010, 2,176 medical registrars in England (43%) responded to a survey of attitudes to current and future working conditions. Regarding current working, 88% were currently happy with their job with respect to their specialty but only 49% were happy with respect to acute medicine. Even if pay was increased, 59% would only want to work a 48-hour week or less. Regarding future jobs, 59% were worried about future job prospects with 91% exploring ways of extending their training. Only 36% would consider working away from their current location as a consultant, only 42% of those trained in acute medicine wish to take part in the acute take, 15% would consider a 'sub-consultant' post and only 60% were looking forward to becoming a consultant. The findings of this survey show that medical registrars are very concerned about their future. From their perspective, clinical medicine in England is in poor health.

Fig 1.

Job satisfaction.

Fig 2.

Would you consider being resident on-call as a consultant physician?

Fig 3.

Effect of the European Working Time Directive on patient care and quality of training.

Fig 4.

Has the introduction of the European Working Time Directive reduced the following?