Journal Article

8253 How we improve the working lives of doctors in training: our working lives study day demystifies common problems encountered by trainees

Luong Ophelia, Bothamley Zoe, Atkinson, Neil, Middleton, Clare, Leach Hermione, Carr, Dominic, Roots Rosie

2025

Overview

Why did you do this work?The Working Lives Subgroup of the London School of Paediatrics (LSP) Trainees’ Committee aims to empower trainees with the knowledge and resources to help them navigate issues that they may encounter throughout their training. Through our work with educational seminars, open forums, one to one support, and the creation of user-friendly guidance, we identified a need for further awareness, guidance and support for trainees regarding their working lives matters. We therefore designed and hosted a ‘Working Lives Study Day’ (WLSD).What did you do?The online WLSD was designed for paediatric trainees, and was also open to colleagues involved in the organisation of paediatric training including rota coordinators and consultants. The day consisted of presentations, Q&A sessions, and interactive workshops. We focused content on four key areas: payslips and salary calculations; pregnancy, maternity/paternity leave and pay; rota design and implementation; and less-than-full-time (LTFT) training. These topics are in line with NHS England’s Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard’s agenda for ‘Improving the working lives of doctors in training’, as set out in a letter to all NHS trusts in April 2024.1 Pre and post course surveys were sent to all attendees, asking them to rank their confidence level from 1–10 (1 being least confident, 10 being most confident) in the four areas, as well as encouraging open space questions and feedback.What did you find?The WLSD was attended by 45 paediatric trainees from across London. Our data demonstrates improvement in confidence levels of attendees across all four topics. Attendees’ confidence in calculating their pay and checking their payslips scored a mean of 3.5 prior to the course, which increased to 7 in the post course feedback. The mean score for understanding rights during pregnancy and parental leave before the course was 3; this improved to 7.5 following the course. Attendees ranked their confidence tackling rota related issues such as rostering and leave at a mean of 6 before the course, which improved to 8 after the course. Attendees’ confidence navigating LTFT training scored a mean of 4.5 before the course, which increased to 7.8 after the course (figure 1).Abstract 8253 Figure 1Results comparing attendee mean pre survey confidence to post attendance confidence, for four topics covered during the study day[Image Omitted. See PDF.]Most queries from the pre-course survey centred around rota and leave. The post course feedback was overwhelmingly positive: trainees expressed highlights from all the sessions, particularly with regards to understanding pay.What does it mean?The WLSD achieved an improvement in trainees’ confidence managing issues with their pay, rotas, LTFT training and parental leave. This supports the continuing need to disseminate this information through further study days to help trainees find solutions to these common issues. We feel encouraged by the success of this work, and plan to open future sessions to a national audience. Ultimately, doctors who are happy and empowered in their working lives provide better patient care.2 ReferencesPritchard A, Powis S, Evans N. Improving the working lives of doctors in training [Internet]. NHS England: United Kingdom; 25th April 2024 [Accessed 27th September 2024]. Available from: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/improving-the-working-lives-of-doctors-in-training/Department of Health. NHS Health & Well-being Improvement Framework [Internet]. Department of Health: United Kingdom; 29th July 2011 [Accessed 30th September 2024]. Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c0296e5274a7318b907ab/dh_128813.pdf

• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subject: Attendance / Confidence / Family leave / Feedback / Maternity & paternity leaves / Paternity / Pediatrics / Physicians / Pregnancy / Surveys / Trainees / Training