General Medical Council publishes SAS and LED survey findings
The General Medical Council (GMC)’s first major survey for seven years of locally employed doctors (LEDs) and specialty, associate specialist and specialist (SAS) doctors has received more than 10,500 doctors’ responses, including 5,221 LED and 5,359 SAS doctor responses.
The survey asked doctors about their roles, motivations, workplace experiences and their access to training and development.
Key findings:
- Almost one in four LEDs and nearly one in three of SAS doctors said they had experienced or witnessed bullying or harassment in their role. 67 per cent of both LED and SAS doctors said they believed reporting would not make a difference
- Consultants were most often identified as the source of bullying and undermining behaviour.
- The survey found that internationally qualified doctors were more likely to report negative workplace experiences than their UK-qualified colleagues.
- Doctors who qualified outside the UK were also less confident about challenging and reporting discrimination.
- Less than half, 45 per cent, of internationally qualified LEDs said they felt confident challenging discrimination, compared with 58 per cent of those who qualified in the UK.
LED and SAS doctors are practitioners who provide patient care, but who are not in formal training posts that lead to becoming consultants or GPs. SAS doctors are usually experienced clinicians who view the role as a long-term career path, whereas LEDs can have a variety of contract types and job titles and are often early in their careers
Charlie Massey, GMC Chief Executive shared: "This survey should be a wake-up call. For one of the NHS's fastest growing and most crucial workforce groups, more must be done to build inclusive, supportive workplaces where they, and everyone, can thrive."
