Record number of trainee doctors for ‘under pressure’ NHS

The largest expansion of medical training posts has been announced the day after Scotland’s health secretary warned that the NHS was facing up to its most challenging winter.

Humza Yousaf yesterday confirmed that 152 more places for trainee doctors would be created next year.

He hailed it as the “most significant increase in medical training places to date” and an increase on the 139 places created last year. The announcement comes after ministers were urged to fund the creation of additional training places in key specialities including general practice, core psychiatry, oncology, emergency medicine, intensive care medicine and anaesthetics.

“These additional training places highlight the Scottish government’s continued commitment to ensure that our health service is resilient and can continue delivering high quality care to those who need it,” Yousaf said. “This record expansion will support a wide range of medical specialties, many of which are under increased pressure as a result of growing demand.

“We will continue to monitor the number of available training places in collaboration with NHS Education for Scotland to help make sure the NHS is equipped to meet the country’s current and future needs.”

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Source: The Times, 1 November 2022