RCPE SAS Survey Results

The RCPE recently circulated a targeted survey on the educational and support needs of SAS doctors in medicine. This survey was responded to by 56% of our SAS Fellows and Members, by a number of SAS doctors outwith the RCPE and had a number of key findings in relation to SAS doctors.

SAS Grade

• 65% of respondents entered the SAS grade in order to obtain a better work/life balance and 50% as a result of desire for a more permanent and stable post. 23% of respondents had been unsuccessful in obtaining a training post and only 9% had been unsuccessful in obtaining MRCP(UK)
• 57% of respondents plan to stay in their current post until retirement, 34% intended to apply to PMETB for a CESR and to apply for a consultant post thereafter
• 92% of respondents believed they are supported within their Departments in taking study leave and 67% of respondents believed that they are able to access a sufficient level of study leave
• 76% of respondents were unaware of the additional funding made available to SAS doctors in Scotland in the 2006/07 financial year for top-up training for CESR applications. If additional funding were made available for SAS doctors, 65% of respondents would this for a time limited post/secondment for specific training requirement
• 42% of respondents would recommend the SAS grade, 38% would not and 20% were undecided
• 42% of respondents work less than full time and 47% are also members of other Colleges or Specialist Societies

Representation via a stand-alone SAS Committee or via the Collegiate Members’ Committee

• 64% of respondents favoured the establishment of a separate RCPE SAS Committee

The survey also provided some useful data, for internal RCPE purposes, on SAS doctors’ awareness and use of a range of RCPE services and their preferences for future RCPE educational events aimed at SAS doctors.

Follows and Members can access the full details of the survey results by logging-in to our Fellows and Members’ area.