Recruitment update
The Royal College of Anaesthetists recognises the highly demanding circumstances that many of our members and Anaesthetists in Training are currently faced with, following the recent outcomes of the ST3 and CT1 interviews. We would like to reassure members that we are continuing to engage in discussions with Health Education England (HEE) to find both short-term and long-term solutions.
We also understand that the GMC-mandated implementation of the 2021 Anaesthetics Curriculum is adding to the uncertainty for some of our members. The College is confident that the increased flexibility in the new curriculum will allow anaesthetists in training to experience a more streamlined progression through the training programme. For those members who have been unsuccessful during this recruitment round, the curriculum does provide the opportunity to evidence their progress outside of approved training posts, in order to have this experience counted towards their training.
We are therefore writing to HEE, NHS leaders, Deaneries and Heads of Schools to strongly encourage them to follow our CT3 equivalent training guidance and to consider experience gained outside of the training programme as counting towards the progression of anaesthetists in training.
We remain committed to advocating for our members by making the case with the Department of Health and Social Care, HEE and their devolved nations’ equivalents for an expansion of anaesthetics training places. As part of our Anaesthesia fit for the future campaign, we are producing an up-to-date demand and capacity analysis for the anaesthetic/ICM workforce over the next 20 years. This is to provide evidence of the on-going workforce shortages and inform key decision makers about the need to expand training places.
Supporting our trainee members
In order to support anaesthetists in training through the curriculum change and to prepare for the 4 August introduction date, please speak with your College Tutor, Regional Advisor Anaesthesia or Training Programme Director.
Alternatively, the College Training Team can be reached at 2021cct@rcoa.ac.uk, or the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Anaesthetists in Training Committee can be reached via trainee@rcoa.ac.uk. For those members who need support, please reach out as there are many other College representatives and staff available to provide support where needed.
President, Royal College of Anaesthetists