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Psychiatric Bulletin (2007) 31: 76. doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.31.2.76a
© 2007 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Correspondence

Recruitment and retention in psychiatry – the role of PMETB

Nicole Fung, Specialist Registrar in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Northbrook Child and Family Unit, 93 Northbrook Road, Solihull B90 3LX, email: nicole_karen_fung{at}yahoo.co.uk

Elizabeth Furlong, Specialist Registrar in General Adult Psychiatry

Orsborn House, Birmingham

Lathika Weerasena, Specialist Registrar in Old Age Psychiatry

Edward Street Hospital, Sandwell

A trend has been noted for trainee psychiatrists who obtain their College Membership to opt for staff grade and associate specialist grade (SAS) posts (Vassilas & Brown, 2005). This contributes to consultant shortages (Mears et al, 2002) and presents the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) with an opportunity to provide solutions.

Our survey of SAS psychiatrists in Birmingham (n=55) found personal reasons (62%) and wanting further clinical experience (45%) to be the most common reasons for taking an SAS post. Of those who have passed the MRCPsych part I examination, 69% and 50% respectively cited personal reasons and gaining clinical experience, but for those with College Membership, pay protection (75%) and additional clinical experience (75%) were the reasons.

It may be that SAS posts are considered more flexible in terms of personal and family life. With PMETB’s proposal for two pathways to specialist registration, a run-through training programme and career posts, doctors might still be attracted to career posts with the incentive of pay protection, and endeavouring to keep trainees on the training path might prove difficult. None the less, the majority of those with MRCPsych part I (88%) and all with part II wanted to resume their training, therefore mechanisms need to be clarified for re-entering training systems.

The desire for additional clinical experience brings into question trainees’ perception of their basic training. This adds to concerns about reduced working hours and the development of specialised teams impinging on opportunities for experiential learning (Brown & Bhugra, 2005). Could PMETB’s more structured, focused and standardised approach to training be the answer?

References

BROWN, N. & BHUGRA, D. (2005) The European Working Time Directive. Psychiatric Bulletin, 29, 161 –163.[Free Full Text]

MEARS, A., KENDALL, T., KATONA, C., et al (2002) Career Intentions in Psychiatric Trainees and Consultants. Department of Health.

VASSILAS, C. A. & BROWN, N. (2005) Specialist registrar training: at the crossroads (again). Psychiatric Bulletin, 29, 47 –48.[Free Full Text]




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Staff grade posts after membership
MYOORAN CANAGARATNAM
PB Online, 16 Feb 2007 [Full text]
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