KEY specialties have achieved 100 per cent recruitment rates for trainee doctor posts but challenges remain in certain areas, according to new figures from NHS Education for Scotland.
The latest rates show that 97 per cent of all posts in Scotland in 2017 are currently filled. The specialities of gastroenterology, haematology, palliative medicine, respiratory medicine and rheumatology show 100 per cent fill rates and recruitment to posts in cardiology, paediatrics, urology, endocrinology and diabetes is also high.
Improvements have also been seen in emergency medicine, where a 73 per cent fill rate was recorded compared to 31 per cent in 2016, and in core psychiatry, with 87 per cent of all posts filled compared to 69 per cent in 2016.
There is an improvement in the GP trainee fill rate from last year, but challenges remain to make further improvements in both GP recruitment and in certain diagnostic specialties.
The figures were welcomed by Health Secretary Shona Robison, who said: “These latest recruitment rates for our medical trainee posts are very encouraging and reflect our reputation as a country which delivers a first-class medical education with flexible and attractive training opportunities.
“We do recognise, however, that there are ongoing challenges in recruitment to certain medical specialties and in geographical areas, and we are continuing to pursue these as innovatively and actively as we can.”
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