Anaesthesia_News_FEB_web

LTF T training
matters
Less than full time (LTFT) training remains a
popular option for anaesthetists. The most
recent data from the GMC survey in 2014 show
that 12.8% of anaesthetic trainees worked LTFT,
up from 8.5% in 2011. Unsurprisingly the vast
majority of these trainees are female, although
the number of male trainees has now increased
to nearly a fifth of those anaesthetists training
LTFT. Anaesthetics is the seventh most popular
specialty for LTFT training by percentage, and
of the overall 6,010 trainees working LTFT we
represent 7.4% (27% are GP trainees).
There are challenges associated with training
generally, and of course many of these are
shared with LTFT training. However there are
also issues unique to working LTFT: some related
to access to and application for posts, funding
and rota writing; some related to managing
training over a prolonged period and others
about maximising opportunities at work while
balancing this with the reason you work LTFT.
The most recent article on LTFT training in
Anaesthesia News was in 2011 and we thought
it was time for an update. The eligibility criteria
and process for application for LTFT training
remains the same, so here we report on some
of the recent initiatives to increase access to
information about LTFT training for trainees and
those who support them. This has improved in
recent years but could still be better, especially
for those training LTFT in Intensive Care
Medicine (ICM), and those training LTFT for
health reasons. These represent the minority of a
minority group and we are keen to work out ways
that we can support these groups better.
A-Z of LTFT training in
Anaesthesia and ICM
This is a fantastic resource for LTFT trainees. It has been written by
a team from the Northern School of Anaesthesia and has recently
been updated. As its name suggests it is a comprehensive guide
to LTFT training and the latest version has an expanded section
for those training LTFT in ICM. It is available to download from
both the AAGBI and the RCoA websites and is a good place to
start when looking for information about LTFT training.
https://www.aagbi.org/professionals/trainees/training-issues/ltft-training
http://www.rcoa.ac.uk/careers-training/training-anaesthesia/special-areasof-training/ltft-anaesthesia-z-guide
LTFT advisors, lead trainees
and the LTFT network
The RCoA has a Bernard Johnson advisor for LTFT training who
supports trainees and trainers and is responsible for confirming
CCT dates. Dr Carolyn Evans was the previous advisor and
stepped down in 2015. With Dr Sarah Gibb from GAT, Dr Evans
worked tirelessly to support LTFT trainees and improve the return
to work process, and we will continue to build on their good work.
Most regions also have a local LTFT Specialty Advisor and lead
trainee who are experienced in negotiating LTFT training and can
listen to, advise, direct and be an advocate for trainees. GAT has
recently set up a network of LTFT contacts across Great Britain
and Ireland. This includes the Lead LTFT trainees in each school
as well as many of the consultant advisors and the representatives
from ICM. We send regular emails to network members to keep
them updated on LTFT issues. We know it is not always easy to
find out who is LTFT training in a School, so if you want to get in
touch with your local LTFT representative you can find out who
they are on the AAGBI LTFT web pages on the LTFT network
map. If you would like us connect you with them, please email
us at ltft@aagbi.org. As well as the names on the map, some of
the regions have also put together a summary of useful pointers
regarding LTFT training in their region, which you can download.
http://www.aagbi.org/professionals/trainees/training-issues/ltft-training
Shape of LTFT Training 2015
In May 2015 the RCoA hosted the 2nd National LTFT day, which
was jointly organised with the AAGBI. It was a great opportunity to
meet other LTFT trainees, consultants and supervisors, to discuss
topical issues and to attend a selection of workshops. The first
joint endeavour from the LTFT network was to put together a
summary of the meeting for those who couldn’t make it, which is
available on the LTFT training pages of the AAGBI website, along
with all the resources from the meeting. As the meeting was such
a success we are hosting a similar event this year on the 26 May
2016 at 21 Portland Place, London. Booking will be available
online and we hope to meet many of you there.
Parent and baby room
Having a parent and baby room is now routine at all AAGBI
conferences and it is regularly frequented. All lectures are streamed
to the room and we ensure that there is a good supply of tea and
coffee so you can catch up on CPD and meet other parents while
looking after your baby. This is particularly well used by people on
maternity leave, and is a good use of Keeping in Touch days. We
are hoping to have a parent and baby room at the LTFT seminar in
May, to enable those embarking on LTFT training to attend.
Returning to work
We appreciate that returning to work after a break is not just an
issue for LTFT doctors, although it is likely that someone working
LTFT has had time away from work at some point. In recent years,
following the establishment of the popular GAS Again course
(www.gasagain.com), increasing numbers of locally run return to
work courses have been established. We have highlighted which
areas they are currently available in on the LTFT network map on
the AAGBI website. The AAGBI previously held a return to work
seminar, and we would be interested to know if there was demand
for this to be run again. In the meantime we will continue to provide
a parent and baby room at conferences and to highlight the
regional courses available. Again, if you would like to find out more
please get in touch.
Contracts
By the time this article is published we may have more information
about how the new contract will impact on those working LTFT.
The AAGBI has voiced serious concerns about the fact that pay
progression will be reduced and the gender gap for pay in medicine
is likely to widen as a result. This feels like a backward step for
many and over the coming weeks and months we will be closely
following the contract negotiations and will continue to highlight
this issue.
AAGBI and RCoA LTFT
webpages
We regularly re-organise and update the LTFT pages on the AAGBI
website and the same occurs at the RCoA. Links to all of the
information above can be on our websites, so please take a look:
www.aagbi.org/professionals/trainees/training-issues/ltft-training
www.rcoa.ac.uk/training-and-the-training-programme/
less-fulltime-training-ltft
Finally, the GAT committee currently has four LTFT trainees as elected members, so we hope to provide representation at a national level. As
we hope is evident from this article, this is an area where the AAGBI and RCoA work closely together. Please do join us on the 26 May 2016 for
our LTFT seminar and in the meantime if you have any questions at all, you can either email the AAGBI (ltft@aagbi.org) or the RCoA (training@
rcoa.ac.uk) and we will do our best to help.
22 Anaesthesia News February 2016 • Issue 343
Emma Plunkett and Anna Costello
AAGBI GAT Committee LTFT Leads
Susan Underwood
RCoA Bernard Johnson Advisor for LTFT Training
Anaesthesia News February 2016 • Issue 343 23