FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR BRITISH GRADUATES AND THE HEALTH SERVICE

What are the prospects, in the National Health Service, for the increasing output of British medical schools? A comparison of the numbers of training and career posts likely to be available in N.H.S. hospitals with the probable requirements of British graduates seeking training suggests that the supply of senior-house-officer and registrar posts will far exceed the demand, so that dependence on overseas doctors is likely to continue. The number of senior-registrar posts should ensure that the present percentage of graduates become consultants, but available consultant posts seem likely to exceed the output of qualified applicants. The only grade for which demand looks likely to exceed supply is the compulsory preregistration grade: in three years' time medical-school output could be greater than the number of approved posts.