As a speciality, Anaesthetics has a very positive approach to flexible training. The Welsh school of Anaesthesia recognises that this number may grow in the future and is working to integrate part time working with the full time workforce in accordance with the recent publication from the Department of Health, BMA and COPMeD.
Who runs the Flexible training scheme?
The scheme is run by Dr Melanie Jones, Associate Dean for Flexible Training with administrative support from Miss Sioned Edwards ,School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, Heath Park, Cardiff. The Flexible Training Adviser in Anaesthetics is Dr Kathy Woods, Consultant Anaesthetist, Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust.
Who is able to train flexibly?
Flexible training is open to trainees in Anaesthetics who live or work in Wales. It is available to men and women, married or single who have a well founded reason which prevents them from working full time such as:
- being the parent of a young child/children
- caring for an ill or disabled relative
- having a disability
- having a health problem
Full details are available in an information pack available from the Postgraduate School website. Trainees wishing to train flexibly must first be interviewed by the Associate Dean to assess their eligibility for the scheme. They should also contact Dr K. Woods to discuss their intentions and for advice. The trainee then needs to produce a job plan laying out a weekly timetable of work including on call duties. This should be done in conjunction with the College Tutor of the hospital in which they plan to work. This must be either 50 or 60% of the full timers working week and be New Deal and EWTD compliant. The job plan must then be educationally approved by the Regional Educational Adviser. Only then will the trainee be considered for funding by the Associate Dean. Due to the increasing popularity of the Scheme in all specialities there may be a wait for funding. Some trainees may be offered a slot sharing post where two flexible trainees share a full timers posts. Some hospitals have Educational Supervisors in Flexible Training who can advise on various aspects of the scheme eg. Dr Sarah Harries, UHW.
