Publish date: 10 October 2022
SAS Doctors in England form around a fifth of the medical workforce and along with important clinical roles SAS doctors also actively participate in training, education, management and leadership roles.
In our own trust we actively promote the SAS role encouraging the SAS charter helping career development of SAS doctors and ensuring their involvement in management infrastructure, research activities, training and education roles. You can learn more from Dr Ujjwala Mohite, the national SASC UK chair, in this video and there’s useful events details on the BMA site here.
The national hashtag is #SASWeek2022.
Medical Director, Dr Noir Thomas
Specialty doctors and specialist grade doctors are a wide ranging group and their role in the provision of our services is critical. This week is SAS Week, where their valuable role is highlighted by NHS Employers and the BMA. On behalf of the whole Mersey Care Board, I’d like to thank all our SAS Doctors for their commitment and dedication – and invite them to share their messages and their passion for their roles this week.
Hear from some of the team:
I joined as Specialty Doctor in July 2011. I worked in the forensic learning disability services in medium and low secure and also enhanced support services inpatient settings. Recently, I have been appointed as Locum Consultant, CFLDS (Lancashire and South Cumbria). I am proud of being SAS doctor. I have found that it’s a great opportunity for me to maintain a good work-life balance, leadership roles and further progression in my career - Dr Sayed Ahmed
I have been an SAS doctor with Mersey Care for 14 years. I initially worked with the Early Intervention Team and now with the Perinatal Mental Health Team. I am a SAS doctor by choice as it enables me to have a career I enjoy as well as be a present parent to my 4 children. For me it has been the right decision. I have had an interesting and fulfilling career with autonomy, opportunities for career development and leadership roles - Dr Janine Griffiths
I have been a speciality doctor since 2010, in Cheshire and Merseyside and then North West Boroughs. I cover 2 busy and complex teams namely, the Halton recovery and the crisis resolution and home treatment. I find my SAS role as very enjoyable, and this has been greatly influenced by my team's attitude and support from the trust and local management teams. I feel that my team members are great in terms of patient care, support and communication skills. I have developed skills in dealing with complex issues and time management. I have developed psychological safety and excellent resilience for my routine work and any unexpected issues that might arise, knowing that I am supported by very insightful people at various levels. I am able to establish a good work-life balance and have an understanding family and lovely neighbours as well. My trust have supported me getting through my clinical supervisor and clinical appraisal roles, which I have been pursuing over the past few years - Dr Jafar Amery