Publish date: 13 October 2024
Isle of Wight and Portsmouth Hospitals are proud to support the SAS Collective and improve careers of SAS and locally employed doctors
Isle of Wight NHS Trust (IWT) and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) are formally supporting the SAS collective to improve the careers for specialty, specialists, and associate specialist (SAS) doctors and dentists, who are vital in our medical workforce.
The SAS Collective is a campaign group of SAS doctors who seeking to work with others to improve the contribution, careers and retention of SAS and locally employed doctors (LED) in the NHS. They've set out six actions that could make a big difference for SAS, LED doctors and NHS patients.
IWT and PHU are committed to implementing these six actions across both of our Trusts:
- Every early career SAS doctor should have access to an educational supervisor.
- All SAS doctors should have equity of access to professional development opportunities relevant to their stage of career.
- All specialty doctors who meet the required capabilities should have the opportunity to become specialists.
- Senior SAS doctors should be offered the opportunity to be educators at every level on a par with consultants e.g. educational supervisors, clinical supervisors, directors of medical education.
- All extended roles in leadership and management should be open to all substantive medical staff i.e. consultants and appropriately experienced SAS doctors.
- All LEDs employed for more than two years within one NHS employer should be offered the opportunity to transfer to the appropriate SAS contract.
Dr John Knighton, Chief Medical Officer, said “SAS and locally employed doctors (LEDs) are a skilled and diverse group of doctors with 83% of them having 10 or more years of experience in medicine. As patient care grows more complex and we embrace new technologies and treatments, we need specialist doctors with the skills needed to care for an ageing population with multiple conditions. SAS and LEDs are absolutely essential to both of our trusts.
“Today we are outlining our commitment to implementing the six actions across IWT and PHU to support the career development and retention of our SAS and LED doctors. Whilst we are already well on our way to providing this support, there are some areas that need more focus and improvement and will make sure this happens for all our SAS and LED doctors.”
The support for the #SASsix has been welcomed by Professor Partha Kar FRCP, elected Royal College of Physicians Council (RCP) member and Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology at PHU added: “This campaign has been endorsed by the RCP, continuing their commitment to the MWRES action plan which calls on stakeholders to support SAS doctors to make progress in leadership roles. I’m really pleased to see both hospitals join the campaign and this rightful recognition of our SAS colleagues and their work.”
Imad Najm, Associate Specialist in Trauma and Orthopaedic, at IWT said: “As Deputy Chair of the SAS Committee, I am delighted to welcome the commitment of IWT and PHU in adopting the six key actions outlined by the SAS Collective. These actions represent a significant step forward in supporting the professional development, retention, and recognition of SAS and locally employed doctors.
“Over recent years, we have achieved important milestones as part of our SAS Charter, including the appointment of an SAS advocate on the island to champion the needs of our group. These accomplishments reflect the dedication of both trusts to improve the careers of SAS doctors, and I am confident that, with the continued implementation of these welcomed changes, we will see even greater progress.
“It is essential that we maintain momentum in embedding these practices, ensuring that SAS doctors have equal access to development opportunities, leadership roles, and career pathways that allow them to thrive within the NHS. I look forward to working with my colleagues and trust leadership to make these commitments a reality for all.”
Notes to editors:
The SAS six campaign has now been endorsed or supported by the HCSA, Medical Protection, the Association of Anaesthetists, the Royal College of Anaesthetists, the Royal College of Physicians, Medical Education Leaders UK and the Medical Women's Federation.
SAS and LEDs are the fastest growing part of the medical workforce, increasing by 40% between 2017–2021. A growing number of these doctors are motivated by wanting a more flexible career path and roles, geographical stability or a better work-life balance.