Our thirteenth survey of RCP members and fellows during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that absence due to illness is rising, particularly in London. The situation in London is almost comparable to the beginning of the pandemic, but is combined with an exhausted workforce, trying to deliver normal care and the usual winter increase in activity.
Headlines
- Across the UK, just over 4% of respondents were off work due to COVID-19. That included being ill themselves, self-isolating due to a household member or having been in contact with someone, or having to care for someone. In London, that figure rose to almost 7.5%.
- 14.5% of respondents who needed it felt that they didn’t have the PPE they needed to wear for caring for patients with COVID-19. 6.5% said that they had been in a situation in the past 2 weeks where they had not been able to access the PPE that the UK Health Security Agency advises. In Wales, those figures rose to 17.5% and 9.5% respectively.
- 99% of respondents had received two primary course doses of a COVID-19 vaccination. 96% had also received a booster and 2% had arranged to have it.
Time off
Across the whole of the UK, 10.5% of respondents were absent from work. Of those, 13.5% were ill with confirmed COVID-19, with 1% having it confirmed as the Omicron variant. A further 2% had suspected COVID-19 and another 2% long COVID. 12.5% were ill with something other than COVID-19. 14% were self-isolating because a household member had confirmed COVID-19, and a further 3% because someone in their household with symptoms was awaiting a test. 45% were taking pre-booked holiday.
In London, 14% of respondents were absent. Of those, 18% were ill with confirmed COVID-19, with 3.5% having it confirmed as the Omicron variant. A further 2% had suspected COVID-19 and another 5.5% long COVID. 5.5% were ill with something other than COVID-19. 12.5% were self-isolating because a household member had confirmed COVID-19, and a further 5.5% because someone in their household with symptoms was awaiting a test. 43% were taking pre-booked holiday.
Infection prevention and control
Across the whole of the UK, 14.5% of respondents felt they didn’t have the personal protective equipment (PPE) they needed to wear for treating patients with COVID-19. 6.5% said they had been in a situation in the past 2 weeks where they had not been able to access the PPE that the UK Health Security Agency advises.
The situation was worse in Wales, with 17.5% saying that they didn’t feel they had the PPE they needed and 9.5% saying that they had not been able to access what UKHSA advised. In Northern Ireland the figures were 15% and 5.5%, and in Scotland 20% and 12.5%, although we received a low number of responses from these nations.
Vaccination
Across the whole of the UK, 99% of respondents had received two primary course doses of a COVID-19 vaccination. 96% had also received a booster and 2% had arranged to have it.
About the survey
We conducted this survey on 18–21 December 2021 and received 1,840 responses. 92% of respondents were working in the NHS or health and social care more widely. Most were in England (93%). 78% were consultants, 10.5% higher specialty trainees, 4.5% internal medicine trainees and 3.5% SAS doctors. The most common specialty worked in was geriatric medicine (12.5%), followed by respiratory medicine (11%) and acute internal medicine (8%). 49% of respondents were women and 48% were men. 73% were aged between 36 and 60 years of age. 60% were White British. 9.5% were disabled or had a long-term health condition. 55% had attended a state school.
Further information about our COVID-19 workforce surveys is available on our website.