Staffing levels of medical clinical academics in UK medical schools (July 2017)

Summary

• Total clinical academic staff stood at 3,094 FTE, with a modest increase since 2016 but a decline from the 2010 peak. Reader/Senior Lecturer roles have seen a 25% drop since 2004, raising concerns about mid-career progression.
• Physicians/Medicine remains the largest specialty group. Psychiatry, Paediatrics and General Practice have experienced long-term declines, while some specialties face persistent recruitment challenges.
• The majority of clinical academics are aged 46–55, with a shrinking proportion under 36. Without renewed investment in early-career roles, future capacity may be at risk.
• Women now make up 31% of clinical academics, with higher representation at junior levels. Ethnic diversity is improving slowly, but senior roles remain predominantly White.
• University funding supports 46% of posts, NHS 42%, and other sources 12%. Lecturer roles are increasingly reliant on NHS funding, with regional variation in funding models.
• Vacancy rates are rising in several specialties, with recruitment difficulties linked to funding arrangements and workforce shortages.
• More academics, especially women, are working less than full time. General Practice and Medical Education have the highest rates of part-time work.
• National Clinical Excellence Awards have declined, while local awards remain stable but vary by region.

Key recommendations

• Improve monitoring of researcher-level roles and specialty gaps to support future workforce planning.
• Strengthen clinical academic career pathways, particularly in underrepresented specialties.
• Investigate recruitment barriers and assess the potential impact of Brexit.
• Promote gender and ethnic diversity across all academic grades.
• Support data-driven planning through consistent national reporting and collaboration across funders.

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