SAS doctors (specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors) are experienced doctors in permanent posts. There are two current SAS contracts available. Specialty doctors have at least four years of full-time postgraduate experience, two of which have been in their relevant specialty. Specialists have at least twelve years postgraduate experience, six of which have been in their relevant specialty. Specialists work independently within their clinical areas. There are also SAS doctors employed on older contracts which are now closed to new entry, which includes the Associate Specialist grade. The majority of SAS doctors work in hospitals and have a very ‘hands on’ role with a lot of patient contact. Many SAS doctors also undertake extended roles in leadership, research or education.
There are SAS doctors in every hospital specialty and also in community hospitals (eg psychiatry, paediatrics and palliative care). Some hold jobs in both the hospital and the community (eg gynaecology and sexual health). Some SAS doctors also work part-time as GPs. SAS doctors therefore work across primary, community and hospital care. Many SAS doctors have made a positive choice to step into a SAS position as an alternative to a traditional training pathway. This could be for reasons such as geographical stability or the chance to work regular hours in a chosen specialty. It often provides a better work-life balance. The Specialist contract provides a senior SAS role for specialty doctors to progress to. Alternatively, some may choose to enter into a formal training programme at a later stage in order to become consultants or GPs. There are also other routes, such as the ‘portfolio pathway’, formerly CESR (certificate of eligibility for specialist registration) for SAS doctors to gain the evidence required to become consultants, if this is their goal.
NEW SAS content!
Updated language in the BMA "doctors titles explained" webpage, better reflecting what a career as a SAS doctor should look like, and what the contract structure is.
www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-s...
