The NHS needs to double the number of medical students in training to avoid collapse, doctors’ leaders have said. Surging obesity and an “explosion” in genomic medicine means the number of new students entering medical school each year should rise to 15,000, according to the Royal College of Physicians (RCP).

In a new analysis, the first of its kind, the college said the health service will require at least 7,120 extra senior hospital doctors by 2030 to cope with a predicted 47 per cent rise in demand.

To meet the extra need by then, health chiefs would need to take steps towards doubling the medical school intake this year.

While around 220 consultants currently retire each year, the number is expected to increase to 680 within 12 years, a figure compounded by an forecast doubling of those leaving the profession before retirement.

The RCP said high workload, low morale due to the recent high-profile prosecution of doctors, as well as Brexit impacts were all fuelling the trend.

The NHS is currently short of 2,330 consultants, the report found.