The recruitment and retention of academic staff in the UK

This paper deals with a detailed survey of medical and dental schools in the UK and a poll of the views and experiences of specialist registrars. Between 1991-1992 and 1995-1996 the total number of academic staff in the medical schools increased roughly in line with the increase in the number of medical students. In 1995-1996 there were 19 professorships and 27 other academic posts vacant through lack of suitable candidates. The major incentive to young doctors to follow an academic career is the challenge of research, but research is the first to suffer when they are under pressure from demand for more patient care. The balance of activity between patient care, teaching and training, and research has been disturbed by pressures for more service and revisions of the medical curriculum. Suggestions are made for the protection of research time. Aspects of training are discussed at length and recommendations made for improvements. It is suggested that efforts should be made to align more closely the management of medical schools and of the trusts with which they are associated.