New Consultants

Appointment to a consultant position represents a landmark in physicians’ careers, but brings with it significantly increased clinical responsibility, opportunity and a whole new range of professional challenges.

Responding to feedback from Fellows and Members, the RCPE recognises that recently appointed consultants would appreciate distinct, targeted, professional support to assist them during this period of their career. Staff, Specialty and Associate Specialist Grade (SSASG) Doctors and trainees nearing the completion of their training may also benefit from this support.

The RCPE has two elected members of Council to represent the needs of recently appointed consultants – Dr Karen Adamson and Dr Mark Strachan (pictured right), whom we would encourage Fellows and Members to contact directly regarding issues of concern to them.

Useful resources

• Becoming a consultant: FAQs, Department of Health, 2004
• Management for doctors: guidance for doctors, GMC, 2006
• Guide to consultant job planning/consultant job planning toolkit, NHS Employers and the BMA, July 2011
• Consultant Appraisal: a brief guide, Scottish Executive Health Department
• JRCPTB Top Tips – Making Workplace Based Assessments work for you and your trainees
• FAQs on new consultant contract in Scotland, BMA, Feb 2011
• FAQs on consultant contract, BMA, 2007

Courses

• NHS Education Scotland’s Supporting Clinicians on Training in Scotland (SCOTS) courses cover a range of topics to help prepare clinicians for their roles as Supervisors