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Recruiting psychiatrists – a Sisyphean task?

West Midlands, and College Lead for National Recruitment, Lyndon Clinic, Solihull

Christopher A. Vassilas, Director of Medical Education

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation NHS Trust, Ashcroft Unit, Hockley, Birmingham B18 5SD, email: c.a.vassilas{at}bham.ac.uk

Clare Oakley, Chair

Psychiatric Trainees’ Committee, and Specialty Registrar, Reaside Clinic, Birmingham

Declaration of interest

None.

Abstract

In 2009, the Royal College of Psychiatrists piloted a system for national recruitment to the first year of training (CT1) in England. This paper reviews the changes in recruitment of UK medical graduates to psychiatry over the past 20 years, both within the West Midlands and nationally. Fewer UK graduates are entering psychiatric training in the West Midlands despite the introduction of pre-registration training in psychiatry and the expansion of medical schools in the region; this picture is reflected nationally. Reasons for the continuing problems in recruitment are discussed and suggestions made for improving the attractiveness of psychiatry as a medical specialty. The latter include: engaging more closely with medical students, continuing to lobby politically with regard to overseas recruitment and presenting a unified vision of the profession.

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