Trust support for SAS doctors
Speciality and Specialist doctors (SAS) will be given support to improve their careers through a training and development programme funded by NHS England.
LNWH secured funding over 21 other hospital trusts to deliver training to more than 100 SAS doctors. Dr Ali Refson said:
“These doctors are the backbone of the NHS who haven’t been able to access structured education and career development programmes.”
The programme will offer educational opportunities, mentorship and leadership development to support career progression and allow SAS doctors to pass their knowledge onto the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Dr Refson added: “These doctors are specialists in their field often with decades of experience putting them on a par with consultants.
“The difference is they haven’t followed the traditional career path to consultancy often due to personal or professional reasons, such as work-life balance. That career path is through choice, not capability, and it is important to recognise that.
“Some, who lead a wider team of 492 locally employed doctors, will be happy in their current roles but those looking at career progression can now do so.”
The trust had just two weeks to put together its successful bid with colleague Dr Kajal Verma saying it gave SAS doctors the ‘opportunity to grow and share their expertise without compromising their personal or professional choices.”
Dr Aravinth Sivagnanaratnam added that ‘it was a game changer providing tailored support to help doctors thrive within the NHS, while enriching our workforce with diverse skills and perspectives.”