P15 Is there a problem finding and retaining clinical faculty for foundation doctor simulation in south london, kent, surrey and sussex?

Abstract

Background Many trusts across south London and Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) have reported to us that they have difficulty in finding adequate numbers of clinical faculty to deliver foundation doctor simulation. We wanted to investigate to what extent this is a problem across the region, the reasons for the problem, and identify ways in which trusts meet this challenge. Summary of work As part of a larger research project, we sent electronic surveys to trusts across KSS between September and November 2017, followed by site visits in south London in early 2018. We asked trusts to report any difficulties they have in finding clinical faculty for simulation, numbers of current clinical faculty, and the ways in which they support faculty development. Summary of results Respondents reported four key problems in maintaining adequate numbers of clinical faculty: (1) a reliance on voluntary faculty, (2) permanent faculty being too busy to find volunteer faculty, (3) a lack of interest in simulation outside anaesthesia and medicine, and (4) a difficulty in clinical staff being released from their clinical duties. The most commonly cited reason (57%) was difficulty in releasing clinical staff from clinical duties. Respondents suggested conflicting clinical commitments, rota problems, and lack of SPA time as possible explanations for this. Trusts also reported a wide variety in numbers of active clinical faculty, with 4 trusts having three times the numbers of faculty compared with other trusts across KSS. They reported that their faculty development programmes involve a variety of training courses and three courses in particular were mentioned by the majority of our respondents. Discussion and conclusions There is evidence that faculty development can improve faculty retention as well as satisfaction and productivity.1 Faculty training courses regularly take place across south London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Of these, TEACHSim (KSS), SimFact (Brighton) and Train the Trainer (south London) were most commonly cited by respondents to be useful courses for their clinical faculty role. More research is needed to investigate to what extent faculty development programmes can improve faculty recruitment and retention. Reference Kim S, Ross B, Wright A, et al. Halting the revolving door of faculty turnover: Recruiting and retaining clinician educators in an academic medical simulation center. Simulation in Healthcare2011;6(3):168–75.