SAS and LE doctors need targeted support, says GMC

The UK’s rapidly growing number of specialist, associate specialist, and specialty (SAS) doctors and “locally employed” (LE) doctors need targeted and specific support to make the most of their expertise, the General Medical Council has said.

SAS and LE doctors are the fastest growing part of the medical workforce, increasing by 40% in four years, from 45 578 in 2017 to 63 740 in 2021, said the regulator.1 This was largely driven by doctors from overseas coming to work in UK hospitals.

SAS doctors are specialty and specialist grade doctors with at least four years of postgraduate training, including two in a specialty relevant to their area of work. LE doctors work in a range of specialties and settings and are employed by an individual trust on …