Acute Internal Medicine (AIM) is a dynamic specialty that addresses the urgent medical needs of adult patients. This study analyses data from the RCP 2023 workforce census to understand for the first time how Acute Physicians allocate their clinical working time across key service areas. Results reveal that the majority of AIM consultants focus on Acute Medical Units (AMU) and Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), with occasional involvement in newer services such as virtual wards and hospital at home. There is also a significant proportion of time spent performing clinical activity within the Emergency Department, which likely reflects ongoing pressures within the urgent and emergency care system taking Acute Physicians outside of their intended working environments. These findings provide a baseline for future workforce planning and highlight the evolving priorities in AIM.
What does a job in Acute Medicine look like? Insights from the RCP 2023 Workforce Census
28th April 2026
PMID: 42127352
| Authors | Affiliations |
|---|---|
| Kai Jones-White | MSc, BSc (Hons), Physician Associate in Acute Medicine, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. |
| Bethan Griffith | MBChB, MPhil, MRCP, Consultant in Acute Medicine, Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust. |
| Gordon McKinnon | MBChB, MRCP, Consultant Physician in Acute Medicine, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley. |
| Nicholas Smallwood | MBChB, MRCP, Consultant in Acute Medicine, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. |
What does a job in Acute Medicine look like? Insights from the RCP 2023 Workforce Census
Cite this article as:
Jones-White K, Griffith B, McKinnon G, Smallwood N. What does a job in Acute Medicine look like? Insights from the RCP 2023 Workforce Census. Acute Med. 2025;24(3):132-138. doi: 10.52964/AMJA.1018. PMID: 42127352.
