Dr Helen Sims

LTFT Representative

Throughout my training I have worked in both full-time (FT) and less than full-time (LTFT) roles and am now nearing the end of the training pathway. I decided to go LTFT in 2021 for health reasons after developing PTSD as a result of working on COVID wards during the pandemic. Seeing training from a new LTFT perspective has opened my eyes to a host of issues and difficulties LTFT trainees encounter ranging from difficulties ensuring correct pay and rostering, to ensuring equal access to training opportunities. 

I am passionate about the ability for trainees to be able to work LTFT for whatever reason, without risk of prejudice, disadvantage or added stress and believe that LTFT training will become much more the norm, especially now trainees can choose to work LTFT for lifestyle/category 3 reasons. This makes it ever more important that training evolves and we ensure adaptations to educational opportunities and access to a variety of clinical settings and working styles to best support and encourage ongoing recruitment and retention in Geriatrics at a time when service demands are ever increasing. I aim to act as an advocate for LTFT trainees and will aim to work towards improving the training and opportunities for those working LTFT in Geriatrics. 

Meetings
  • BGS Trainees weekend conference 
  • BGS Trainees council meetings
  • BGS Autumn and Spring meetings