Clough Neil, Magan Tejal, Jain Saurabh
Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
University College London Medical School, London, UK.
Eye (Lond). 2025 Mar 18. doi: 10.1038/s41433-025-03755-9.
The significant and pressing workforce issues facing paediatric ophthalmology were highlighted by the 2022 RCOphth census. Here we present a national UK survey with the aim of deepening the understanding of the size and contributing factors, and inform future strategies.
In September 2023 an online questionnaire survey link was sent to U.K. based ophthalmologists. Questions were tailored to separate groups; ophthalmologists in training (OST registrars), ophthalmologists in training (fellows), paediatric ophthalmology consultants, or SAS (specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors). OST registrars were questioned on quality of teaching, experience, dissuading factors from pursuing paediatric ophthalmology and career plans. Fellows were questioned on career plans. Paediatric ophthalmology consultants and SAS doctors were questioned workforce issues and solutions to recruitment.
145 responses: 53.8% (78/145) OST registrars, 7.6% (11/145) fellows, 37.9% (55/145) consultants and 0.7% (1/145) SAS doctors. 87% (67/77) of OST registrars did not want a career in paediatric ophthalmology, citing complexity of strabismus and discomfort with examining children as dissuading factors. 59.6% of consultants reported one or more departmental paediatric ophthalmology vacancies, and identified early sub-specialty exposure and increased emphasis on teaching as solutions to recruitment. SAS doctors reported a desire for career development support.
We present a national survey exploring the workforce issues facing paediatric ophthalmology in the UK. Our results suggest the situation is set to worsen in the short term. Potential solutions are early sub-specialty exposure and increased emphasis on paediatric ophthalmology teaching during training.
2022年皇家眼科医学院的普查凸显了小儿眼科面临的重大且紧迫的劳动力问题。在此，我们开展了一项英国全国性调查，旨在加深对小儿眼科规模及影响因素的理解，并为未来战略提供参考。
2023年9月，向英国的眼科医生发送了在线问卷调查链接。问题针对不同群体进行了定制；培训中的眼科医生（眼科专科培训注册医生）、培训中的眼科医生（研究员）、小儿眼科顾问或专科、副专科及专科医生（SAS）。对眼科专科培训注册医生询问了教学质量、经验、阻碍从事小儿眼科的因素以及职业规划。对研究员询问了职业规划。对小儿眼科顾问和SAS医生询问了劳动力问题及招聘解决方案。
共收到145份回复：53.8%（78/145）为眼科专科培训注册医生，7.6%（11/145）为研究员，37.9%（55/145）为顾问，0.7%（1/145）为SAS医生。87%（67/77）的眼科专科培训注册医生不希望从事小儿眼科职业，将斜视的复杂性和检查儿童时的不适感列为阻碍因素。59.6%的顾问报告了一个或多个小儿眼科部门职位空缺，并将早期亚专科接触和加强教学作为招聘解决方案。SAS医生表示渴望获得职业发展支持。
我们开展了一项全国性调查，探讨英国小儿眼科面临的劳动力问题。我们的结果表明，短期内情况可能会恶化。潜在的解决方案包括早期亚专科接触以及在培训期间加强小儿眼科教学。
