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In October 2022, NHS employers, along with the BMA, organised the first SAS (Specialists, associate specialist and specialty doctors) week, focused not only on promoting SAS as a positive career choice, but also on helping employers better understand the benefits of the SAS grades, and encouraging leaders to recognise the contribution of SAS doctors, highlighting the benefits of supporting SAS doctors’ professional development, and extended roles. This year, we have a new opportunity of celebrating all SAS doctors working in the NHS, and particularly those working at North London NHS Foundation Trust, as even though they represent a small percentage of our current workforce, their contribution is considerable, as they make a difference in every service they work and to every patient they see. 

We know SAS doctors have a wide range of experience and expertise, with some having recently concluded their core training, while other having more than 20 years of experience in psychiatry; so, their roles and contribution to our Trust may vary from service to service. However, there is no doubt that our capacity to provide not only the best quality of care to our patients, but also the best teaching experience to our core and higher trainees, is also influenced by the hard work, experience and expertise our fellow SAS doctors bring to out Trust. Although due to the nature of their role, most SAS doctors focus solely on providing clinical care; however, SAS doctors can also be involved in many other activities ranging from research, teaching, QI and management, pursuing what we called a portfolio career. 

Despite their contributions, SAS doctors, who are more likely to be IMGs, females and from BAME backgrounds, are more likely to experience bullying, racism and discrimination, compared with their white and non-SAS doctors’ counterparts. Similarly, SAS doctors are less likely to engage in activities focused on professional development or leadership, often because they are traditionally excluded from them, with most opportunities opened only for trainees or consultants. This has led to SAS doctors not only to disengage from organisations, but also organisation to miss the expertise SAS doctors could bring to these same organisations. 

At NLFT, we are lucky to have a small but highly experienced and committed group of SAS doctors, who have been helped raise the quality of care we provide. With some of them with more than 20 years of experience. We currently have SAS doctors working in our crisis teams, wards, and community teams, services in which they have gone from providing patient care and gaining experience, to helping develop policies, achieve accreditations, and even help training new generations of psychiatrists. Because all this, we want to recognise and celebrate all our SAS doctors, reminding everyone at NLFT, who they are and what they have done for all of us. 

Sharmin Panna, Specialty Doctor and SAS advocate at NLFT, said:

"There is no doubt that SAS doctors are a vital pillar or our health care system-quietly delivering expertise, resilience, and compassion every day. This week, let us celebrate our invaluable contributions and start another journey to ensure we receive the recognition, respect and appreciation we deserve."

Check out the poster below to find out more about this year's theme and access more resources and information:

NHSE-SAS-week-25-poster.pdf