The RCP has published an emerging themes report covering October 2024–September 2025, revealing that doctors across the UK are delivering high-quality care under unrelenting pressure.
Unsafe corridor care, rota gaps and overstretched services have become routine features of hospital medicine – leaving doctors exhausted and worried about patient safety.
What doctors are telling us
Drawing on more than a year of RCP hospital visits and survey data, the report paints a picture of a workforce under strain:
Among consultant physicians:
- 83% say rota gaps directly impact patient care
- 66% report resident doctor rota gaps on acute medical rotas
- 78% had provided care in corridors or waiting areas in the past month
- 68% report problems with delayed discharges
- 59% report consultant vacancies in their departments
- 45% enjoy their job less than last year
- 30% have made plans to bring forward their retirement age.
Among resident doctors:
- Only 44% are satisfied with their clinical training
- 26% say their role is not preparing them for the next stage of their career
- Only 17% think postgraduate training recruitment is fair
- 35% say they do not expect to still be in the NHS in five years
- 47% say rotational training has a negative impact on their wellbeing.
The RCP is calling for national action, including:
- a long-term workforce plan with transparent, independently verified projections for consultant and specialist numbers to meet population need
- fair, flexible training reform with protected time for supervision and education built into every programme
- measures to close rota gaps, reduce reliance on locums and recognise the non-clinical work that keeps the NHS running
- support to retain senior doctors, including flexible retirement options and more sustainable consultant roles
- a national commitment to end corridor care, recognising it as unsafe and unsustainable
- investment in social care to tackle delayed discharges, improve patient flow and prevent avoidable hospital admissions
- stronger, clinically led leadership with inclusive decision-making and visible accountability at every level.