A brave new world: novel non-training posts to support career breaks, reduce rota gaps and reduce locum spend

Abstract

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is suffering with significant junior doctor rota gaps; a result of the imposition of the new junior doctor contract, poor recruitment to core medical training and an increasing trend towards trainees taking a career break post-completion of the foundation programme (58% in 2017). These gaps are impacting on training opportunities and morale of trainees, and operationally are leaving wards short-staffed resulting in an increased reliance on locum doctors, particularly …