Traineespotting

Sarita Sochart is a consultant in Geriatric and Stroke medicine and Foundation Programme Director Health Education North West. Paul Baker is a geriatrician in Bolton and Deputy Postgraduate Dean, running the largest Foundation School in the country.

In this blog, based on their presentation at the BGS Spring Conference in Nottingham, they look at quality management in training, and trainees in difficulty.

Our presentation at the BGS conference this spring focused on the Trainee in Difficulty (TID). Evidence suggests that nationally 2-6% of all doctors may experience difficulties, sufficient to raise concern about their performance (Donaldson, 1994; NCAS, 2006).

For the purposes of the study the Northwestern Deanery has identified a TID as-

“Any trainee who has caused concern to his/her educational supervisor(s) about the ability to carry out their duties, which has required unusual measures”

This would mean anything outside the normal trainer-trainee processes where the Training Programme Director has been called upon to take or recommend action.”

(NW Deanery, 2013)

Trainees consistently experience high intensity of work, conflicting time demands and a progressive increase in professional responsibility. They are not supernumerary to service requirements and are aware of increasing expectations from the public and threat of litigation. However, with compulsory appraisals, assessments based around work and a culture of reflection, it is hoped that any TID will receive adequate and appropriate support.