Medical and dental staffing in the National Health Service in Scotland in 1994

The Scottish Office Home and Health Department (SOHHD) has, since 1980, published a regular series of articles on medical staffing in Scotland. The articles have taken the form of a series of tables provided by the Information and Statistics Division (ISD) of the Common Services Agency from the annual 'Medman' Census of Medical and Dental Staff in Scotland. Although the information given this year is similar to previous years, the format of some of the tables has been changed, and in particular primary care medical and dental manpower information is now included. Comparable medical and dental manpower statistics are regularly published for England and Wales. The background to the present manpower planning strategies have been summarized. In the publications 'Achieving a Balance: Plan for Action', the 'Shaw' Report, 'Hospital Medical Staffing in Scotland' and the Report of the Working Party on the UK Specialist Medical Training (the 'Calman' Report). In essence the strategy has sought to improve and reshape the pyramidal staffing structure of NHS hospitals by matching the number of doctors in the training grades more closely with career opportunities, and by expanding the consultant grade. As the reforms in Specialist Medical Training are introduced, the length of training is likely to be shorter, but more structured. Additionally the 'New Deal' to reduce junior doctors' hours of work is also having a significant impact not only on the hours worked by training grade doctors, but also on local patterns of staffing. There are, too, increased opportunities for flexible and part-time working. SOHHD and the Department of Health have both published recent reports on flexible and part-time working for doctors.