title: SAS doctors career progression survey 2013.
abstract: We conducted a national survey of Staff, Associate Specialists and Specialty (SAS) doctors working in sexual health clinics in the UK in 2013 in order to explore their career progression. The aim of the survey was to assess SAS doctors' experience in passing through the thresholds and to gather information about the adherence by SAS doctors and employers to the terms and conditions of service laid out by the new 2008 contract. Out of 185 responders, whom the authors estimate comprise 34% of the total workforce, 159 were on the new contract. Of those, most SAS doctors were women (84%), the majority (67%) worked less than nine programmed activities per week; only a few had intentions to join the consultant grade (15%), and a considerable minority (26%) were older than 54 years of age and likely to retire in the next ten years. The survey showed that most participating SAS doctors had undergone appraisal in the previous 15 months (90%), most had a job planning discussion (83%) with their employer and most had some allocated time for supporting professional activities (86%). However, a significant minority had no appraisal (10%), no job planning discussion (17%) and had no allocated supporting professional activities (14%), which allows time for career development in the specialty. Most SAS doctors, who had the opportunity, had progressed through the thresholds automatically (88%); some experienced difficulties in passing (8%) and only a few did not pass (4%). SAS doctors must ensure that they work together with their employer in order to improve adherence to the terms and conditions of service of the contract, which allow for career progression and benefit both the individual doctors and ultimately service provision.
authors.affiliation: Chalmers Centre, Edinburgh, UK carlos.oroz@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oroz
authors.affiliation: Oxford Sexual Health Service, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Lorna R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Sands
authors.affiliation: Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust-Sexual Health, Josephine Butler Centre for Sexual Health, Clayton Hospital, Wakefield, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002322:Career Mobility; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D034121:Reproductive Health Services; D012179:Retirement; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014686:Venereology; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: SAS contract; SAS doctors; SPA; appraisal; career progression; job planning; personal development plans