GMC opens first detailed survey of LE and SAS doctors for seven years

A detailed survey of tens of thousands of UK doctors working in locally employed (LE) and specialty, associate specialist and specialist (SAS) roles has opened – the first since 2019.

The General Medical Council (GMC) is inviting around 85,000 doctors across the UK to share insights about their roles, motivations, workplace experiences, and access to training and development.

The last comprehensive survey, conducted seven years ago, highlighted significant challenges around career progression, alongside reports of unfair treatment, rudeness and incivility. Since then, the GMC has strengthened guidance on professional behaviours and speaking up, and built stronger relationships with LE and SAS stakeholders. It has also made access to the specialist register more flexible for doctors who have not completed a UK training programme.

Despite this progress, concerns remain that LE and SAS doctors – skilled and often highly experienced practitioners who are not in formal training to become consultants or GPs – may still face barriers to development opportunities.

The survey, which runs for six weeks until Tuesday 2 June, will directly inform the GMC’s major review of medical education and training. This review, the first in more than a decade, will examine the standards, design, outcomes and delivery of doctors’ education, training and career development over the next five years.

GMC Chief Executive Charlie Massey said the growing number of LE and SAS doctors makes understanding their workplace experiences essential for workforce planning and patient care. He urged doctors to share both positive and negative experiences to ensure the results are meaningful and representative.

Dr Umesh Salanke, Medical Director for postgraduate and undergraduate medical education at Birmingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said the survey is an opportunity to “make the invisible, visible” and generate evidence that can drive solutions for long‑standing issues affecting LE doctors.

Dr Amit Kochhar, Chair of the British Medical Association’s Representative Body and former Chair of the BMA’s SAS Committee, encouraged participation, saying the findings could directly shape support, recognition and working conditions for this vital part of the workforce.

The GMC’s survey of LE and SAS doctors is open until Tuesday 2 June.

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