Background The GMC has set out leadership and management responsibilities for all doctors,¹ however opportunities for trainees to gain exposure to these skills are not widespread, as post graduate training is predominantly clinical. An emerging way for trainees to gain these skills is by way of trainee leadership roles.

Discussion In an anaesthetic and critical care department there is opportunity for trainees to take on trainee leadership roles. There is a trainee leadership structure for senior trainees within the department mirroring many consultant roles (service lead/clinical director, governance, education, wellbeing, etc.). Candidates are selected by interview for 6-month posts. The programme began with a single trainee leader but has now expanded to 9 roles. The benefits to the department and ultimately patients have become more apparent as the structure has evolved, demonstrated by various improvements. Concerns raised by trainees via the trainee leads empowers them to design solutions. As the structure has evolved, the problem-solving capacity of the structure has improved such that problems are often presented to the consultant department leaders with sensible and practical solutions. Some issues like trainees missing training time are now entirely managed within the trainee leadership setup with regular reports to department leaders.

Furthermore, the benefits for the individual trainee are also significant for developing problem-solving, collaborative-working, communication and leadership skills.

Conclusion Engaged trainees can be enthusiastic and powerful agents for change when empowered and can improve patient care. Having a trainee leadership structure within a department allows trainees to develop into tomorrow’s leaders.

References

1. Leadership and management for all doctors. GMC, 2012. Available at: https://www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/leadership-and-management-for-all-doctors-english-1015_pdf-48903400.pdf(accessed 24/8/2019).