Context
The number of clinical academics is declining, impacting medical education and research. Universities are struggling to match the new NHS pay structure for consultants.
Question
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help retain clinical academics in universities. The number of clinical academics is in worrying decline. These are the people who teach our doctors in universities and are conducting groundbreaking research. Consultant clinical academics’ contracts with universities give them pay parity with the NHS. However, the universities do not have the funding to match the costs of the new NHS pay structure for consultants. I have heard that, unable to retain them, 20 out of 26 medical schools in the country are offering voluntary redundancy to their staff, and sometimes not voluntary. Does the Minister agree that we must do all we can to support medical education and research in this country?
Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Janet Daby)
As autonomous institutions, universities are responsible for their staffing decisions, including recruitment and retention. Where the Tories left universities on the brink, we have acted decisively to secure the future of the higher education sector. We remain committed to working closely with education partners to ensure that clinical academia remains an attractive career choice for all, including students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Not addressed: Specific steps and funding commitments were not provided.
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