Subspecialty neonatal trainees views on being prepared for the consultant role

Abstract

Higher specialist training offers an opportunity to focus on non-clinical skills as well as clinical issues. The authors wished to determine whether doctors who complete neonatal higher specialist training in the UK feel prepared for the consultant role with respect to management, research and teaching, as well as clinical activities. A questionnaire related to the preparedness of the consultant to carry out a range of activities was sent to all doctors who were appointed to the UK higher specialist training programme in neonatology from 2002 to 2008 who were currently working as consultants. Seventy-one of the 83 eligible participants completed the questionnaire. Roles that consultants felt extremely well prepared for related to clinical care, communication, team-working, prioritising tasks, teaching and audit. Trainees reported that roles that they had been not at all well prepared for were related to roles in management and service delivery, medicolegal issues and complaints, job planning and personal development, supporting doctors in difficulty and chairing meetings. Four key themes emerged from the analysis of free-text responses regarding specialty training: the influence of shift patterns/service provision, the lack of non-clinical preparation, learning on the job as a consultant later on and problems with grid training itself. This study showed that for neonatal paediatrics in the UK, new consultants feel confident about managing ill babies but are unprepared for other aspects of the consultant's role. Neonatal higher specialist training needs to allow opportunities for non-clinical training.

Higher specialist urology trainees’ opinions on preparation for the consultant role

“…Trainees reported the roles that they are not well prepared for were related to management, service delivery, medico-legal issues, complaints, job planning, personal development, supporting doctors in difficulty and chairing meetings. 8 These findings reinforce our study. Another study looked at trainees from all specialities within a deanery in the UK.…”

The first five years: a mixed methods study investigating reflections on working as a hospital consultant

“…4–6 These are often management and financial issues which are the aspects of the consultant role that take the longest to adapt to. 7,8 This probably explains to some extent why the informal support mechanisms that develop over time are often with consultants from other specialties across their Trust. There does seem to be a difference in terms of becoming a consultant in a unit where they have practised as a SpR previously.…”

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“…There are a few other things I wanted from my training, most of which I have sought in some form. I wanted to successfully address the training needs of the urology SpRs who I am representing; I wanted to know more about the details of medico-legal law in this increasing litigious era, something in which many pre-consultants feel they lack training [9] , and most of all I wanted to enjoy a singularly exciting profession that has allowed me an opportunity to develop at my pace whilst working with the most inspiring individuals. In the first, I am currently actively involved in various forms; the second, I am starting to delve into, and the third… well I would not be here typing this if it were not the case.…”