(SAS Grade) Staff Grade, Associate Specialist, Specialty Grade and Health Board Grade Doctors

SAS doctors previously known as NCCG (Non consultant career grade doctors) are a group of doctors who because of choice, have decided to stay in this grade or due to several reasons have been unable to progress to a consultant grade.

In Wales, there are over 1000 SAS doctors and they form a significant hospital workforce in the NHS, about 20%. A lot of these doctors have postgraduate qualifications and are fellows and members of the Royal colleges and a significant number of these doctors are working at a very senior level independently with increasing responsibility and autonomy.

Unfortunately their professional needs and developments have not been adequately addressed. With the negotiations of the new contract this is being looked at various levels. In England £12 million funding has been granted for 2008/2009 for the professional development of this grade. Unfortunately this has not been the case in Wales.

However, looking at the positive side the Deanery has appointed Mr Raj Nirula, a urologist at Bridgend, to the role of Associate Dean. His first aim is to identify the needs of this group of doctors. He plans to do a survey in the very near future and all doctors are encouraged to respond, as this will be very helpful in collecting the data.

Once the training needs of these doctors are identified, Raj will try and facilitate this through the Health Boards and the Deanery. SAS doctors and non-training grade doctors in Wales are encouraged to get in touch with Mr Raj Nirula at the Deanery office

They will contribute to service delivery and patient care within a defined speciality as a member of a multidisciplinary team. Their continued professional development and acquisition of skills will be supported by the new career structure.

Entry into the Grade

The minimum entry requirements for the new speciality doctor grade will be: full registration with the GMC, plus a minimum of four years (or equivalent) postgraduate training, two of which must have been in a relevant speciality.

The grade is made up of 11 pay points. There will be annual progression up to point 5 of the salary scale. In order to progress from point 4 to point 5 of the scale each doctor will need to pass through Threshold One. The doctor must evidence meeting the Threshold criteria before the move can be made. Progression from point 5 to point 8 will be at two yearly intervals. To progress from point 7 to point 8 of the scale, each doctor will need to pass through Threshold Two. Progression from point 8 to point 10 will be at three yearly intervals.

Closure of Associate Specialist grade

The existing grade was closed to new applicants from 1st April 2009. Staff grades can re-grade to a new associate specialist grade until 1^st April 2009 but will need to meet the exiting criteria and go through the existing application and re-grading process.

To attend any SAS training session or conference though, you have to book through the new Generic Curriculum (GC) website - as you will need to register on the website, if you haven't already done so. The courses are free and open to all SAS Doctors and Dentists in Wales.

Contact Details

Mrs Carrie James

Mr Raj Nirula