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Comment
. 2021 Feb 23;13(1):12-19.
doi: 10.1136/flgastro-2021-101790. eCollection 2022.

Bowel cancer screening workforce survey: developing the endoscopy workforce for 2025 and beyond

Srivathsan Ravindran  1   2 , Jane Munday  3 , Andrew M Veitch  4   5 , Raphael Broughton  1 , Siwan Thomas-Gibson  6   7 , Ian D Penman  8   9 , Alistair McKinlay  9   10 , Nicola S Fearnhead  11   12 , Mark Coleman  1   13 , Robert Logan  14   15
Affiliations
Comment

Bowel cancer screening workforce survey: developing the endoscopy workforce for 2025 and beyond

Srivathsan Ravindran et al. Frontline Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: The demand for bowel cancer screening (BCS) is expected to increase significantly within the next decade. Little is known about the intentions of the workforce required to meet this demand. The Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG), the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI) developed the first BCS workforce survey. The aim was to assess endoscopist career intentions to aid in future workforce planning to meet the anticipated increase in BCS colonoscopy.

Methods: A survey was developed by JAG, BSG and ACPGBI and disseminated to consultant, clinical and trainee endoscopists between February and April 2020. Descriptive and comparative analyses were undertaken, supported with BCS data.

Results: There were 578 respondents. Screening consultants have a median of one programmed activity (PA) per week for screening, accounting for 40% of their current endoscopy workload. 38% of current screening consultants are considering giving up colonoscopy in the next 2-5 years. Retirement (58%) and pension issues (23%) are the principle reasons for this. Consultants would increase their screening PAs by 70% if able to do so. The top three activities that endoscopists would relinquish to further support screening were outpatient clinics, acute medical/surgical on call and ward cover. An extra 155 colonoscopists would be needed to fulfil increased demand and planned retirement at current PAs.

Conclusion: This survey has identified a serious potential shortfall in screening colonoscopists in the next 5-10 years due to an ageing workforce and job plan pressures of aspirant BCS colonoscopists. We have outlined potential mitigations including reviewing job plans, improving workforce resources and supporting accreditation and training.

Keywords: endoscopy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Histogram of current versus desired screening colonoscopy sessions (PAs) per week. PAs, programmed activities.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age range across consultant respondents, split by role.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Thematic analysis of survey comments by respondents—perceived barriers facing the screening programme.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Stacked bar chart of top three activities participants would relinquish to increase screening contribution, by priority (in order of decreasing frequency). (A) Consultants and trainees. (B) Nurse/clinical endoscopists. GIM, general internal medicine.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Thematic analysis of survey comments by respondents—suggested actions for future of screening programme. BCSP, Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Projections for 2025 based on survey and bowel cancer screening data. (A) Estimated number of screening colonoscopists in 2025 compared with 2020. (B) Estimated number of screening procedures in 2025 based on current and aspirational programmed activities (PAs) in estimated workforce pool.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment on

  • Colonoscopy in the post-COVID-19 era.
    Everett SM, Burr NE. Everett SM, et al. Frontline Gastroenterol. 2021 Apr 13;13(1):3-4. doi: 10.1136/flgastro-2021-101817. eCollection 2022. Frontline Gastroenterol. 2021. PMID: 34966528 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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