title: Consultant rheumatology workforce in the UK: changing patterns of provision 1997-2001.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the changes in rheumatology provision and working practice that have occurred on the basis of the results of the 1997, 1999 and 2001 surveys carried out to update the British Society for Rheumatology/Arthritis Research Campaign Rheumatology Workforce Register.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Workforce Register includes all consultant rheumatologists in the UK who do at least one NHS clinical session per week. Questionnaires were sent to all consultants on the register at the beginning of 1997, 1999 and 2001. The questionnaires asked about clinical commitments and workload.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rates for 1997, 1999 and 2001 surveys were 85, 86 and 92% respectively. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all had fewer consultant rheumatologists per capita than any English region. Within England, the London region had 60% more rheumatologists per capita than any other English region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are ongoing inequalities in the provision of rheumatology, especially between London and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
authors.affiliation: ARC Epidemiology Unit, University of Manchester, Manchester and. British Society for Rheumatology Clinical Affairs Committee, London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Symmons
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bamji
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palferman
mesh_terms: D003253:Consultants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D000078329:Workforce