Advocacy and campaigns

Make the NHS a competitive and attractive place to work

Received confirmation from a Parliamentary question in Northern Ireland that budgets need to cover mandatory training. (March)

Shared our new briefing Women in anaesthesia with MPs and Peers taking part in relevant debates. (March)

Responded to the NHS Staff survey. (March)

Submitted evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee inquiry into Cross-border and highlighted issues including data sharing and the absence of a unified patient data system. (April)

Received confirmation from a Parliamentary question in Northern Ireland on the types of mandatory training study budgets must be used to pay for. (April)

What's next? Follow up with Northern Ireland health minister about how study budgets are used; continue raising working conditions with politicians - including the newly elected Scottish and Welsh parliaments.

Highlight workforce shortages at every opportunity and make sure all strategies and plans reflect the needs of anaesthetists

Met with the office of Gerry Carroll MLA. (March)

Met with the Medical Protection Society to discuss the latest policy developments and how we can work together. (March)

What's next? A new 10 year workforce strategy is expected soon which we will be responding to. 

Improve the recruitment process for resident anaesthetists and suggest ways to improve retention for anaesthetists at all stages of their careers

Responded to the publication of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill. (January)

Submitted written evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Health inquiry into education and training. (February)

Secured a place on working groups as part of phase 2 of the Medical Education and Training Review. (April)

Tabled a Parliamentary Question in Northern Ireland asking how the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill impacts resident doctors there. (April)

What’s next? The Association is part of Phase two of the medical training review and will make sure the views of anaesthetists are heard throughout the process.

Include anaesthetists in policy discussions and development from the very start

Commented on the Irish National Patient Safety Office’s plans for a Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill. (February)

College of Nursing to discuss working together to help politicians learn more about what both anaesthetists and nurses do. (March)

Wrote to Health Minister Karin Smyth asking to participate in the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act working groups. (April)

Wrote to the Secretary of State to highlight the lack of anaesthetists representation on the new Maternity and Neo-Natal Taskforce and requested to participate. (April)

Met the Patient Safety Commissioner for England to discuss ongoing important safety issues and to explore where we can work together. (April)

What’s next? We're responding to the consultation on the GMC legislative agenda which will change how doctors are regulated for years to come.

Improve working and training opportunities for those working in remote and rural areas

Sent our Scottish and Welsh manifestos to candidates and highlighted the need to address rural and remote working issues. (March)

Our Scottish and Welsh manifestos were shared with over 650 candidates across Scotland and Wales.    

What’s next? We'll contact all members of the new Scottish and Welsh Parliament and this will be one of the key issues we'll highlight with them.

Ensure the recommendations of the Independent review of Physician Associates (PAs) and Anaesthesia Associates (AAs) in the UK are fully implemented

Met with Labour MP Cat Eccles to discuss AAs and their role in the multi-disciplinary team. (January) 

What’s next? We're part of several working groups looking into the implementation of the Leng review recommendations.

Address barriers to SAS doctors’ career progression

Met with the GMC about their survey of SAS members. (January)

We asked a Parliamentary Question on plans to regrade SAS doctors in England. Disappointingly the Government said they had no plans to do so. (April)

We also tabled a Parliamentary Question on career development opportunities available to SAS doctors. (April)

What’s next? In the coming weeks we'll be launching our own research about SAS doctors and the contracts they are on. We will continue to raise the issue of regrading with politicians and governments across the UK.