August Transition of Trainees

August 2011

Doctors within the UK will be acutely aware of the practical difficulties encountered within the NHS due to the traditional August changeover of trainees in which all new trainees take up post nationally, and trainees already within the system progress within training, on the same day.

Following the emergence of some evidence to suggest that there could be an increase in mortality at this time, the RCPE and the Society of Acute Medicine (SAM) undertook a UK wide survey of their members to obtain their views regarding this matter, based upon their practical clinical experiences.

You Said

Of the 763 doctors who completed this survey –

• 93% believed the August changeover has a negative impact on patient care
• 90% believed the changeover has a negative impact on patient safety
• 58% believed the changeover has a negative impact on doctors’ training

 We Did

In order to add to the literature in this area, the survey results were submitted for publication in Clinical Medicine. The paper was published in August 2011 and the RCPE undertook media activity to raise wider awareness of this issue and of Fellows and Members’ concerns, resulting in widespread media coverage. Sample BBC news item.