Locally Employed Doctors

Introduction

A centrally administered LED programme was started in 2014 with a simple aim of

  • Minimising the rota gaps
  • Reducing agency spend at junior (resident doctor) level
  • reducing the recruitment workload on individual specialties 

This programme has expanded over years, it is currently supported by a dedicated medical workforce lead and a lead from post-graduate medical education department (Additional DME for LED programme).

In 2024:

We had 212 LED doctors (numbers vary every year) working across NUH

  • 147 working in Medicine 
  • 65 in Surgery

On an average 100 doctors are recruited each year. They are recruited to start at regular change over time - August, December and April, with the bulk of them starting in August (around 60).

Background

NUH had Trust Grade or clinical fellow posts across various specialties for many years. They were created for various reasons but mainly to cover rota gaps. They were identified locally within the individual specialties with local recruitment.

Key aspects of NUH LED programme

Working at NUH

  • Implemented new LED contract – similar to trainee 2016 contract
  • Attend bespoke induction programme –
    • On starting job - attend a 4 day LED induction programme – 2 days covering safe prescribing course / assessment, clinical skills teaching and Adult Basic Life Support and ReSPECT
    • 2 days covering topics relevant to working at NUH like breaking bad news / communication, Sepsis / NEW2, legal requirement after death and a session on developing portfolio and career progression.
  • Supernumerary shadowing period for LED’s if it is their first job in NHS
  • Rotations similar to trainees – rotate every 4 months across sub-specialties
  • Exception reporting system
  • Annual LED survey in line with GMC survey to help improve the programme
  • Yearly appraisal / revalidation system

Opportunities at NUH

  • LED WhatsApp® group for peer support and guidance
  • Free access to HORUS portfolio if working at Foundation grade level
  • 10 days of paid study leave
  • Opportunities to attend training stream specific teaching and local specialty teaching sessions
  • Various options to progress whilst working in LED job
  • Locally allocated supervisors during each placement to support with both clinical and educational needs.
  • Bespoke training courses offered by PMED for supervisors looking after LED doctors