Consultant aspirations: a surgical trainee consensus process

Understanding what the current generation of trainees want to achieve is the key to understanding the future of the workforce Introduction Reform to surgical training over the last three decades has significantly affected the surgical workforce, career planning and progression. Despite changes to consultant job plans, there are no published data on trainees' aspirations and priorities for their future practice. In order to inform the design and structure of consultant job plans, this study sought to produce a trainee consensus statement regarding essential and desirable aspirations for their future professional practice as consultant surgeons. Methods This study used qualitative methodology with an initial survey to define themes, followed by an open invitation to a consensus session held at the Association of Surgeons in Training annual conference in Belfast in 2019. Results Fourteen essential and eight desirable aspirations for consultant practice were voted in and ratified at a formal consensus session. Essential aspirations included: regular theatre lists of cases in the clinician's subspecialty area of interest; regular theatre lists for teaching; regular ward rounds of the clinician's own patients; regular involvement in multidisciplinary team meetings, and morbidity and mortality meetings; a fixed elective schedule; specialty specific procedural lists; flexible working; dedicated time for administration, teaching, education and continuing professional development; options for sabbatical leave; and working in a supportive department. Conclusions This is the first formal national consensus process used to identify what surgical trainees deem as essential and desirable aspirations for their future practice as consultants. Healthcare employers should consider these aspirations when creating job plans and posts to attract trainees, encourage job satisfaction, improve workforce retention, and ultimately improve service delivery and patient care.