Royal College of Surgeons 2025 UK Surgical Workforce Census

The British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) welcomes the publication of the Royal College of Surgeons 2025 UK Surgical Workforce Census and strongly support its findings. The report provides a clear, evidence-based picture of the pressures facing surgical teams across the UK and the urgent need for system-wide action.

Across the three pillars—productivity, training, and workforce sustainability—the message is consistent: demand continues to rise while access to theatres, beds and staffing remains constrained, administrative burden is growing, and the backlog is affecting how services are delivered. The impact on the workforce is significant, with training opportunities under strain, burnout across grades, attrition risk increasing among resident doctors, and persistent consultant vacancies alongside worrying retirement intentions.

The BOA supports and is contributing to the necessary practical solutions identified: investment in surgical capacity and infrastructure, job planning that reflects real workload, protected time and access for training, and flexible career pathways that improve retention. Tackling these challenges is essential to safeguard patient care now and build a sustainable surgical workforce for the future.

View the report here.