Support for SAS/LEDs
Alternative support for Staff, Associate Specialist and Specialty (SAS) doctors and Locally Employed Doctors (LEDs)
The PSW service is aimed at supporting doctors in training with a national training number and the service currently does not have provision to extend this support to SAS/LEDs.
However we recognise that SAS/LEDs make up just under a fifth of the medical workforce and we want to ensure you are able to access alternative support.
Support for SAS/LEDs in the East Midlands is managed by our Associate Post Graduate Dean, Dr Lily Read, she can be contacted on sasdoctors.midlands@hee.nhs.uk
Dr Read can assist with support and guidance for your professional development and contact with the network of SAS Tutors across NHS Trusts.
Below are some guidance documents on how the NHS aims to support SAS/LEDs:
- GMC information about SAS/LEDs: https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/education-centres/training/documents/sas-and-led.pdf
- Royal College of Physicians SAS doctor strategy: https://70b706f2.flowpaper.com/SASdoctorstrategy202224/#page=1
- Essential Measures to support SAS doctors: https://www.hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/SAS_Report_Web.pdf
- SAS doctor development guide: https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/sas-doctor-development-guide
We also hope that the below sources of support will be useful if you are experiencing difficulties with your mental health and wellbeing.
- https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/ This is free service available to any doctor, and they offer one to one therapeutic services.
- https://doctors-in-distress.org.uk/ This service provides peer to peer group support and is dedicated to reducing stress and burnout in healthcare workers
- https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/your-wellbeing/wellbeing-support-services/counselling-and-peer-support-services Free and confidential 24/7 counselling and peer support services open to all doctors and medical students (regardless of BMA membership)
The PSW service is able to provide support for doctors returning to training after a period of absence and if this applies to you, you can contact us via our SuppoRTT service.