Over the past decade the numbers of doctors in flexible training has increased, supported by both the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the Wessex School of Anaesthesia. This recognises the gradual acceptance that not all doctors wish, or are able, to work on a full-time basis.
Useful Resources
- Applying to Train LTFT in Health Education England working across Wessex
- Maternity leave / New parent support leave / Shared parental leave
- LTFT Rostering Guide 2024
- RCoA Flexibility in training – webpages with links to many useful resources
RCoA Advice for Core Training Year 1 (CT1) Trainees considering Less Than Full Time (LTFT) Training
Commencing as a novice anaesthetic trainee on a 50-60% LTFT basis is extremely stressful for both trainee and department. There are very few who start an anaesthetic career on a LTFT basis but information gathered at the College would suggest that many of these trainees have failed to gain their Initial Assessment of Competence by six months.
The College Training Committee recommends that, if at all possible, the trainee should gain their initial three-month competencies on a full-time basis and then revert to LTFT training once this has been achieved.