Transition from Geriatrics Registrar to Consultant - what are the experiences of trainees and what support could be offered?

Introduction:

Completion of geriatric medicine training (CCT) marks the transition to independent consultant practice, bringing new clinical, managerial and leadership responsibilities. We explored senior trainee and early consultant experiences of this transition to identify gaps in support and opportunities for the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) to better prepare the future workforce, ultimately improving care for older people.

Methods: 

Senior trainees and early career consultants were invited to complete an online survey exploring their experiences of transitioning to consultant practice. The survey was shared via the national trainee representative network, deanery trainee WhatsApp and email groups, the BGS trainee bulletin and Instagram page. 

Results:

47 doctors from 11 UK training regions responded to the survey. Most (87%) felt their training had prepared them for consultant practice, although only 55% felt prepared for the job application and interview process.  Resources that respondents found useful were often delivered locally or trainee led initiatives. Common areas where additional support was desired included clinical governance, job applications, job planning and understanding consultant pay, pensions and employment arrangements. Reported barriers included limited opportunities to "act up" and poor awareness of existing transition resources.  Overall, 77% said they would welcome a BGS New Consultants Network.

Conclusion:

Although most respondents felt clinically prepared for consultant practice, important gaps remain in preparation for the non-clinical aspects of the role. There is strong support for a BGS New Consultants Network to provide networking, near-peer support and shared resources. Survey findings also support the development of targeted educational resources, including microlearning on topics such as job applications, clinical governance, service design and job planning. Planned next steps include piloting the network via WhatsApp and launching a networking event at a future BGS national meeting.