SAS Week 2025

From 6 – 10 October, we celebrated the work of specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors.
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Celebrating SAS week – strengthening the future for SAS doctors



Daily themes for the week

 

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Monday, 6 October

Explore and celebrate the diversity and opportunities within SAS roles. Learn how to make the most of your role and discover new pathways for growth.

SAS as a career choice and the SAS charter content
UK | Blog My journey to becoming a SAS doctor and a clinical leader - Susanne Reinoehl Specialty doctor Susanne Reinoehl shares her experiences representing SAS doctors and the benefits of building your own career pathway.
St Marys/Hammersmith Hospitals 21-12-16 Hospital doctor taking blood pressure SMH2016
Wales | Blog My experience of being a SAS doctor - Dwijen Baruah Retired associate specialist D N Baruah reflects on his experiences working in the NHS at different levels alongside tirelessly advocating for SAS doctors.
Scotland | Blog SAS doctors: the unsung backbone of the NHS Consultant radiologist Kate Thomas reflects on her experiences working with SAS doctors and the importance of the specialist grade in ensuring career progression and formal recognition.
Blog | Wales Introducing the new WSASC deputy chair Specialty doctor Dale Cartwright discusses his interests inside and outside medicine, and his future hopes for WSASC
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Northern Ireland | Video Chair of NISASC Dr Leanne Davison on #SASWeek2025
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UK | Video SAS charter explainer Find out what the SAS charter is all about.
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UK | Career The SAS charter The SAS charter will help you to elevate your position at work, hold your employers accountable and provide greater development and working opportunities.
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England | Guidance Autonomy of SAS grade As a SAS grade doctor you may be capable of taking decisions and carrying responsibility without direct supervision, which is known as autonomous working.
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UK | Webinar Interview skills and preparation for SAS doctors In this recorded webinar, you will be guided through the strategic journey of honing and tailoring your interview skills for consultant, GP, and SAS doctor roles.

Downloadable resources

Spread the word and celebrate #SASWeek25! Download our social media assets and posters to share with your colleagues and network. Invite everyone to find out more and take part. 

SAS week assets - England

SAS week assets:

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SAS week assets - Scotland

SAS week assets:

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SAS week assets - Northern Ireland

SAS week assets:

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SAS week assets - Wales

SAS week assets:

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Tuesday, 7 October

Discover in-depth guidance on the specialist grade, including insights into career progression from experienced specialist doctors. Learn from their reflections and gain practical advice for those considering this rewarding path

Don't miss our live webinar today (7 October) from 6-7pm, hosted in collaboration with NHS Employers.

Register now
Specialist grade
SASC 2022
UK | Blog My journey towards a specialist role – John Vinu Edwin Specialty doctor John Vinu Edwin reflects on his career progression and offers advice to others seeking to pursue a similar path.
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England | Guidance The 2021 specialist grade explained Read our guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the 2021 specialist grade and how you can make a case for meeting the essential requirements.
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Wales| Guidance Specialist re-grading SAS doctors in Wales might have questions about the benefits, downsides, and process of moving from the 2008 to the 2021 contract. Read about what this involves.
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Video NHS employers video In this film the #SASDoctors talk about the specialist role, what it means to them and how the organisation they work for supports the progression of its SAS workforce
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Wednesday, 8 October

Today's resources spotlight opportunities for SAS doctors in extended roles. Use our job planning tool, Dr Diary, to support your growth, explore locum work options for SAS doctors, and read insightful reflections from SAS doctors on their leadership experiences in extended roles. Prioritise your development and make the most of these valuable tools.

SAS in extended roles and SAS development
SASC 2022
UK | Blog Reflections on my BMA leadership role and experiences – Vaishali Parulekar Associate specialist Vaishali Parulekar discusses the lessons learned from her varied leadership roles and the importance of supportive colleagues along the way.
St Marys/Hammersmith Hospitals 21-12-16
Wales| Blog Celebrating SAS Week: A Journey of Passion, Progress, and Pride – Tulika Porwal One doctor shares her experience of moving to Wales where she practised and taught and promotes the positive contribution SAS doctors make to the NHS.
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Wales | Recorded presentation Recorded presentation – personal journey – Tulika Porwal
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UK | Blog My journey as an SAS doctor in breast surgery There is an abundance of resources available to anyone wishing to take this route.
UK | Blog Embracing the journey: my leadership in extended SAS roles – Madapura K Shashidhara A doctor recounts his immersion into a specialist role and retells how he slowly built up his confidence.
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UK | Video Video interview with Amit Kochhar
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UK | Learning module Portfolio pathways process This course guides you through the steps of the application process: outlining evidence to be gathered and signposting vital guidance, so that you can start your preparation straightaway.
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UK | Tool Dr Diary app A diary that enables you to record work activities on-the-go. It will help you to track your activities, know your work patterns and steer your job plan.
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UK | Guidance Locum working for SAS doctors This guidance provides SAS doctors with everything they need to know about locum roles and contracts, as well as what happens if you choose to return to a substantive post.
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UK | Guidance Study, professional and special leave What you as a SAS doctor should consider when making an application for study, professional or special leave.
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UK | Guidance SAS doctors acting up This guidance addresses the situation where a SAS grade doctor is asked to cover for a senior colleague for a limited period only and is acting up into a senior role.
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UK | Webinar Leadership essentials 1 In this recorded webinar, we will teach you the skills needed for high quality leadership that can improve your credentials, inspire confidence in yourself and in others, as well as improve clinical outcomes.
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UK | Webinar Leadership essentials 2 This recorded webinar focuses on honing leadership strategies and skills necessary for managing diverse teams, navigating change, and enhancing patient care.
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UK | Guidance SAS professional development funding The BMA and NHS Employers have produced application guidance for SAS professional development funding.
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UK | Career Medical leadership online courses This collection focuses on how to grow your leadership skills in a healthcare setting.
UK | Webinar Empowering the SAS workforce Watch a webinar from NHS Employers.
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England | Guidance Rate card England This guide sets out your rights and pay rates for participating in extra-contractual work or activity as a SAS doctor in England.
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Northern Ireland | Guidance Rate card Northern Ireland This guide sets out your rights and pay rates for participating in extra-contractual work or activity as a SAS doctor in Northern Ireland.
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Guidance NHS Employers - updated SAS development guide
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Thursday, 9 October

Today we’re spotlighting equal rights in the medical profession. Discover how doctors with disabilities face barriers to essential safety measures, and why it's crucial to ensure their voices are heard and their needs fully supported. Connect with member networks and more.

Northern Ireland SAS doctors - don’t forget to join our live 'Specialty Doctor to Specialist' webinar happening this evening from 7:00 to 8:30pm

Register
Equalities and the Medical Workforce Race Equality Standard
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UK | Career Equality online courses In this curated list of courses, you'll learn how to be more inclusive and unbiased, and how to challenge behaviour that is the opposite.
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UK | Our work Equality, diversity and inclusion We are committed to creating an open and inclusive culture at the BMA for our members and our staff. Find out more about the work we are doing at the BMA to make this happen.
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Northern Ireland | Article Equality Denied People with disabilities have fewer rights in one part of the UK than they do in the others. For doctors, it means that basic things to keep them safe, like hand gel and fire doors, are literally out of their reach.
UK | Blog Why equality, inclusion and diversity matter for doctors The effect of discrimination on healthcare workers can affect productivity, clinical performance, safety, mental health and relationships.
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Wales | Blog SAS doctors: a personal reflection As we celebrate SAS Week, I want to share my personal journey working with SAS doctors – colleagues who have helped to shape my career and continue to play a vital role in NHS Wales.
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Friday, 10 October

On the final day of SAS week, we’re highlighting the role of SAS advocates and the importance of wellbeing. Discover how SAS advocates are making a difference in the profession and explore resources to prioritise your own wellbeing.

Join our live webinar today (10 October) from 12.30-1.30pm, for a discussion on SAS wellbeing.

Register now
SAS advocates and wellbeing
Gauri Sankhe
UK | Blog My journey as a SAS advocate and why representation matters SAS advocate Gauri Sankhe outlines the significance of the SAS advocate role in ensuring all SAS doctors have a voice.
Urmil Chalishazar
Wales | Blog How are SAS advocates helping the profession? SAS advocates are now in place across Wales. Urmil Chalishazar, ENT specialist at Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, explains their importance.
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UK | Guidance SAS advocate guidance This guidance is not intended to duplicate any work that is already ongoing within an organisation but can help supplement any local agreements already in place.
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UK | Infographic SAS advocate role Use our infographic to share and highlight the SAS advocate role that has been created to support the health and wellbeing of SAS doctors.
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UK | Guidance Safe working for hospital doctors When services are understaffed, patient safety and your own health and wellbeing could be compromised. This toolkit outlines practical actions you can take to mitigate risk and ensure safety in a system under pressure.
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UK | Webinar Managing conflict In this recorded webinar we will look at a range of skills that will help you steer a course that delivers positive outcomes for all – helping build your confidence in managing those tricky conflict situations.
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UK | Webinar Self management and prioritisation This recorded webinar aims to help you increase your confidence in navigating new challenges and disruptions in the world of work.
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UK | Webinar Work, stress and positivity This recorded webinar will help you to understand more about stress from an individual perspective and how to positively harness good stress.
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UK | Webinar How to achieve a healthy work life balance This module will focus on you: identifying what is working well and what needs to change, giving you a plan and the practical tools to bring about the changes that you want.
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UK | Blog Prioritising wellbeing: a guide for SAS doctors Avoid isolation, plenty of exercise and a healthy diet can help you through the day.
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UK | Blog SAS advocates should not be necessary - but they are Dr Imran Sharieff, SAS advocate and specialty doctor explains why he believes advocates are essential.
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UK | Blog Why SAS doctors are indispensable to our trust Discover how SAS doctors are driving excellence in mental health care through leadership, continuity, and compassion at Lincolnshire Partnership.
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UK | Blog Supporting SAS doctors in SAS Week and beyond SAS doctors are an essential part of the secondary care backbone but are often under-recognised and underrepresented. We want to change this, and SAS week is a helpful way to highlight their work.
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UK | Article A quest for recognition SAS doctors can often 'go under the radar'. As a week celebrating their achievements comes to a close, three of them tell Tim Tonkin about the opportunities and challenges they have had, and why it's important to 'create visibility'

Join us as we celebrate the value and impact of SAS doctors and access SAS Week resources at:

X @BMA_SAS, LinkedIn, BlueSky 

Northern Ireland

Instagram, X account, Facebook, Bluesky,

Scotland

Blog

Wales

Instagram, X account, Facebook, Bluesky