Help us to develop our network of SAS and NCHD members
On behalf of the Association’s SAS Committee I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
I am proud to be an SAS anaesthetist. SAS doctors undertake a large amount of important
clinical work. Many of us also have non-clinical roles including leadership, service
development and education. With the introduction of new SAS contracts in England, Wales
and Northern Ireland, there is a renewed opportunity to promote, support and recognise
the career development of SAS anaesthetists.
The SAS Committee works hard to represent the interests of SAS
doctors in the UK, Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHD) in
the Republic of Ireland, and the growing number of long-term
Trust/ Locally-Employed Doctors working within our specialty.
However, we are only as strong as our membership, and I hope
you will help us develop our community by encouraging these
groups of doctors to become members of the Association.
There has never been a better or more important time to
become a member of the Association and support our work.
New reduced joining fee for SAS
and NCHD doctors
The Association has introduced a new pricing structure for new
SAS/ NCHD members who now pay an initial reduced fee of just
£125 (50% discount) in their first year, followed by a permanently
reduced rate of £250 per year.
Exclusive benefits for SAS
and NCHD members
SAS/ NCHD members receive access to a wide range of benefits
and services, including free patient transfer insurance (up to £1
million), a subscription to the journal
Anaesthesia, and discounts
on attending all Association educational events. They also have
the opportunity to apply for the SAS professional development
grant, with a total fund of £2000 available annually.
Advocacy and representation
Over the past year, we have continued to increase the
representation of SAS anaesthetists within the Association
to include more committees and working parties than ever
before. We welcomed Dr Emma Wain, who joins the Association
Board/Council as our second elected SAS doctor. The SAS
committee has expanded to include representation from the
BMA SAS committee, and Irish NCHD members. We will shortly
be recruiting two more committee members, with the goal that
SAS doctors are represented in every forum in which decisions
affecting SAS doctors are made.
SAS Links network
The Association’s network of SAS Link doctors continues to
go from strength to strength. These doctors provide a link
between the Association and its SAS members, allowing us to
better represent you. We would like to see a SAS Link in every
department. If you are interested in getting involved, please get
in touch using the email address at the bottom of this article.
SAS Stories
Alongside the SAS Committee at the RCoA, we have launched
an initiative to tell the stories of SAS anaesthetists whose work is
worthy of recognition but who might otherwise be overlooked.
These doctors might demonstrate notable clinical expertise or be involved in quality improvement or service development. They
might be excellent teachers, or be involved in management,
leadership or research. We would like to know about more of
these doctors in order to share their stories. If you would like
to nominate a colleague, then please get in touch.
Education
Following on from the success of previous SAS events at other
meetings, we recently hosted our first full SAS session at the
Association Annual Congress.
Look out next month for a new free webinar (SAS contract
update
: 18:00 - 20:00 Thursday 3 February 2022) to help
you understand better the important details of the new
SAS contract, including important changes and the new
‘Specialist’ role.
Robert Fleming
Elected Board / Council Member
SAS Committee Chair, Association
of Anaesthetists
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @RobJimFleming;
@Assoc_Anaes; @Anaes_SAS
Further information
SAS handbook
This useful handbook, with much essential
information for SAS doctors, managers and clinical
directors, is available to download.