Guide to Anaesthetics Training (The Handbook)

The effect of any absences or changes to the training programme resulting from any type of sickness, maternity, paternity, shared parental, or parental leave should be assessed on an individual basis.

The Gold Guide acknowledges that a competence defined programme of educational progression requires an agreed framework of time to enable appropriate breadth of experience and practice to be gained. Short periods of absence from the training programme may not require extension to the duration of the programme, continued progression with relevant learning outcomes achieved can be demonstrated.

Absence from training, other than for study or annual leave, may have an impact on a doctor’s ability to demonstrate competence and the satisfactory completion of the curriculum and assessment system to enable them to be awarded a CCT.

The GMC position statement Time out of Training states [pdf] that if a doctor in training is absent for a total of 14 days or more within a 12-month period, a review of their CCT date will be triggered. This includes forms of absence such as sickness, maternity, parental, compassionate, etc. but not study or annual leave, or prospectively approved Out of Programme Training/Research placements. The GMC supports Deaneries in implementing the guidance flexibly so that each doctor in training’s circumstances can be considered on an individual basis and that any changes to the CCT date will reflect the demonstration of competence.

The administration of the absence and decision on any extension to training will be undertaken locally by the relevant Deanery in consultation with the relevant College/Faculty where necessary. A review will be undertaken at the ARCP and consideration will be given to the number of absent days and progression through the training programme. A decision will then be made as to whether further targeted training or an extension to the CCT date is required.

The Training Department will request confirmation from the local Specialty Training Committee or Training Programme Director that the effect of the leave has been discussed, that the programme has been adjusted to take account of the individual anaesthetist in training and that the provisional CCT date needs to be revised as necessary.

In the case of an extended period away from the workplace, eg, maternity leave, the College recommends that before the anaesthetist in training returns to work, a formal assessment of which parts of the programme have been missed along with review of the individual’s remaining training programme occurs. Clear educational objectives must be agreed in advance and the domains of learning as defined in the curriculum must be achieved.

For additional information please see our Flexibility in training webpage.