Health Education England has published a progress report looking at ‘Enhancing junior doctors' lives’ in England. This follows on from the issues raised during, but also prior to, the junior doctors’ contract dispute which highlighted widespread reports of low morale, unhappiness, anger and disillusionment.

Trainees and Members' Committee response

The College’s Trainees and Members’ Committee has welcomed the report as a means to support trainees.  However, we recognise the need to ensure that these are not just written standards but are deliverable and measurable to ensure real benefit to trainees’ working lives and work-life balance.  

For example, we are acutely aware of the difficulties and complexities of trainees receiving rotas in advance, and, therefore, hope that these new proposals can be meaningfully actioned.  We greatly welcome the plans to recognise competencies gained outside of a formal training programmes as this was an important point discussed by trainees at our recent Medical Trainees’ Conference in February in Newcastle.  We hope this will also include time spent training abroad.   

We also welcome proposals to:

  • Create flexibility for those who want to train in a certain area or move region; 
  • Better facilitate trainees who also have caring responsibilities, family life or illnesses to balance with their training; and
  • Create a fairer system of study leave.  

It is vital to reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing to recognise trainees as individuals with their own personal needs and incorporate these into workforce planning.   

We believe that improving flexibility and access to Less Than Full Time training (regardless of eligibility under the Gold Guide criteria) is a progressive and positive step forward.  However, this should include trainees across different specialities and should be piloted beyond emergency medicine.  

We recognise that this document is designed to support training for the trainees we represent working in England.  However, we feel it is important to recognise that many trainees train across all four nations of the UK throughout their training career. As a result, standards for improving low morale, unhappiness, anger and disillusionment should not be limited to one country but be equitable across all four nations to truly benefit trainees during their career path.  

The Committee also recognises the current added pressure, stress and uncertainty that is leading to low morale for many of our trainees who are from outside the UK but play a vital role in the NHS and delivering patient care.  We think it is important that all organisations reflect and recognise the wellbeing of trainees and their important contribution to the NHS wherever they originate from.  

The Committee looks forward to the standards being rolled out; ultimately, achieving good deliverable standards to support training equals good patient care.