Career prospects in medical gastroenterology in the United Kingdom.

Progress reportCareer prospects in medical gastroenterology in the United Kingdom In 1980, there was an obvious imbalance between 279 consultant physicians with a special interest in gastroenterology and 102 trainees of senior registrar status who aspired to a career in the specialty.'Furthermore, almost three quarters of the consultants were under the age of 50 years so there was no early prospect of many retirement vacancies.Two changes were needed to redress the balance, more consultant posts and fewer trainees.A progress note in 1983 showed trends in the right direction, there were then 310 consultants and 90 trainees of senior registrar status.'Despite rapid expansion in consultant numbers, senior registrars were still finding it difficult to obain career posts and there was widespread dissatisfaction among trainees.Young people were also deterred from entering the specialty because of the competition both for the reduced number of senior registrar posts and the uncertain prospect of achieving a consultant appointment within a reasonable time.Concerned by the imbalance between the numbers of trainee and career posts in many specialties, the Government in 1985 formed a Joint Planning Advisory Committee (JPAC) which set quotas for the total number and regional distribution of senior registrars in all specialties for England and Wales.3What changes have occurred in medical gastroenterology during the period 1982-8 and what advice should now be given to someone attracted to a career in this specialty? Method of enquiry