The Clinical Immunology Workforce Report highlights the essential role of immunologists in diagnosing and treating immunodeficiencies, allergies, autoimmune conditions and cancers of the immune system. Despite demand for services rising by an average of 11% each year over the past 5 years, the consultant workforce has grown by just 0–2% annually.

Dr Bernie Croal, President of The Royal College of Pathologists said:

“Immunology is a small but vital specialty which is fragile and vulnerable to collapse. The shortages we see have a direct effect on patient care – patients face delays to diagnosis and treatment, lack of access to specialists, and worsening health.” 

Key findings

• The UK needs at least 44% more consultant immunologists (an additional 52 posts) to meet current demand. 
• Almost 40% of immunology services have one or more consultant vacancies, and over half of these have been vacant for a year or more. 
• A quarter of services operate with just one consultant, with almost half of all services in the UK operating with 2 consultants, leaving them highly vulnerable to collapse. 
• 21% of the current consultant workforce will retire within 5 years; this rises to 40% within 10 years. 
• Workload is increasing by 11% each year, yet 76% of services report they do not have enough staff to meet clinical demand. 
• Half of consultant immunologists do not feel heard or empowered by their employer, and 45% do not feel supported.

Recommendations

To address the significant challenges faced by immunology services across the UK, RCPath is calling on policymakers and employers across the UK to:

• establish 17 additional immunology training posts by 2027, and a further 35 by 2030 to meet projected workforce demand
• provide and honour stronger safeguards in job plans for consultants involved in education and training
• improve retention through better administrative support, investment in facilities and protected time for professional development
• deliver on the recommendations relating to wellbeing set out in the ‘Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England’
• undertake proper workforce planning to ensure the appropriate numbers of medical consultant immunologists are in post to enable safe and effective care This planning should consider evidence in the report of one immunologist per 451,000 population
• undertake and strengthen workforce planning for immunology services, ensuring appropriate consultant numbers per population and improved NHS data to capture true workload and workforce numbers.

Download the full report and briefing here: