To the Editor: A great deal has been said and written in recent years about inadequate numbers in the medical workforce. As a result, many scientific and political articles about the need to increase the number of medical students and how to train them for the workforce have been written.1,2

Yet there has been little discussion of how those already trained and in the workforce should be retained, or of the rate of attrition of those in the workforce.

After 30 years as an anaesthetist, I can recall only one positive change in my conditions of work — the introduction of exhaust gas scavenging. All other changes have been negative: longer hours, greater stress (from multiple factors, such as increased complexity, day surgery and admission on day of surgery) and higher public expectations.

My motives in suggesting the need for such research are purely selfish — having recently retired, and enjoying the lack of stress, I wish to be sure there is an adequate workforce in my old age.