SAS DOCTORS IN 10 YEARS TIME

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SAS DOCTORS IN 10 YEARS TIME

• Dr Ramana Alladi

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ROLE OF SAS DOCTORS

• Large section of Medical work force in
  Anaesthetics
• First line cover to ITUs and Maternity
  departments
• On-call and out of hours work
• District General Hospitals

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STATISTICS

• RCOA CENSUS 2004
• Total Number of SAS doctors 1243
• AAGBI Postal Survey
• SAS doctors 527

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SAS DOCTORS
Trust Grades
Associate Specialists

• Hospital Practitioners

Staff Grade Doctors

• Clinical Assistants

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CURRENT POSITION

• 30 over 50 yrs of age
• 45 between 40-50yrs of age
• Large percentage will leave NHS in 10 yrs
• Leaves a BIG GAP in the service

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INCREASING NUMBERS

• Phasing out of SHO jobs
• Introduction of Foundation years Training
• De-recognition of Registrars jobs in DGHs
• Trainee hours are cut further
• Consultant hours are down to 10 sessions
• Foundation doctors fail to get on to the run
  through the grade with MMC

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NEED FOR SAS IN NHS

• To fulfil service needs
• To make up for shortage of Consultant applicants
• To cope with increasing demands for anaesthetic
  services

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WHO JOINS SAS GRADE?

• By Choice
• Not keen on consultant responsibilities
• Not keen on post-graduate exams or failed to get
  through
• Committed to the specialty and have experience
• Wish to work part time

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WHO JOINS SAS GRADE?

• Gap in service
• Too old and too experienced to join SpR grade
• Not short listed
• Other interests in life and family commitments

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SAS SURVEY 2005 AAGBI

• 40 work 13 sessions
• 32 work 11 sessions
• 65 do 1 in 4 weekdays on-call
• 50 do 1 in 4 weekends on-call
• A major part of work is cover for ITU and
  Maternity

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SAS SURVEY 2005 AAGBI

• Many are performing consultant duties

• 43 have English or Irish fellowships

• 70 have post-graduate qualifications

• 50 have gt 10 yrs experience

• 75 work full-time and 25 part-time

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MAIN ISSUES FACING SAS DOCTORS

• Wide variation in job plans with no guidelines
  for sessional allocation
• No pathways for Career Progression
• No established mechanism for up-grading from
  Staff grade to Associate Specialist

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AMBITION FOR FUTURE

• 30 - Will be in the same job
• 20 - Will re-enter training programme to become
  a consultant
• 25 - Up-grade to Associate Specialist

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IMPLICATIONS

• There is a need for this grade
• There is a need for improvement of working
  conditions
• There is a need for incentive and recognition of
  work and increasing work load
• Can cause disillusion among SAS doctors

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SAS ISSUES

• Carrying out independent work but no independence
• Work commitment is not commensurate with age,
  qualifications and experience
• Foundation Drs fail to get on to the run through
  grade
• Not experienced enough to qualify as Staff Grades

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SUGGESTIONS

• Definite guidelines on job plans specific to
  Anaesthetics
• Establishment of career pathways for completion
  of CCST
• Supernumery jobs, day release courses, in-job
  training and assessment,allocation of jobs for
  SAS doctors exclusively

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SUGGESTIONS

• Creation of a Specialist grade e.g. Europe
• Limited or modular accreditation to be a
  specialist through assessment of competency
• Increasing involvement in teaching and training
• Creation of single spine with a two-tier system

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Role of AAGBI and Linkman

• SAS Committee and representation
• AAGBI Glossy on Guidelines for SAS doctors
• Guidance on contractual and educational issues

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Role of Linkman

• Encourage SAS colleagues to join the Association
• Be sensitive to the needs and problems of SAS
  members of the department
• Involve them in all the departmental activities
  e.g., teaching, audit and training
• Identify SAS doctors that are enthusiastic and
  encourage and assist to complete CCST

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FUTURE

• PMETB
• New Contracts
• Availability of training and training jobs for
  SAS doctors
• Changes in accreditation
• Dependant on Resources!

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Finally

• There is a need
• There is a demand
• There is a pool
• So the numbers will definitely increase

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IN 10 YEARS !?

• Two-tier structure to make
• career progression easier
• increased morale
• better motivation
• better reward for skilled work

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IN 10 YEARS !?

• Work of staff grades better recognised
• Foundation years trainees do not diminish the
  role of SAS doctors
• Allow to transfer to the appropriate point for
  those who wish to return to training

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IN 10 YEARS ?!

• New Contract
• Enhanced status of SAS group of doctors
• Improvement in pay
• Improvement in terms and conditions
• Implementation in April 2006
• A national contract
• Tackle discrimination

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Thank you

• Dr Ramana Alladi

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