Hospital consultant jobs failed to attract applicants

One in every six hospital consultant posts advertised this year attracted no applicants at all, despite the introduction of higher salaries.

The Public Appointments Service said it has advertised 51 posts since the beginning of January. Thirty of those advertising campaigns have closed.

A spokesman said there were no applicants for five of the 30 campaigns.

On average, the posts attracted just three applicants although some received significantly more. There were 12 applicants ...