Coordinated Anaesthesia Recruitment 2010-2011 Background
The Department of Health (DH) has stipulated that for 2011 all specialty recruitment must be nationally coordinated. As a result, the College is continuing to assess and implement the most workable processes for coordinated recruitment, through the work conducted by the National Recruitment Working Party (NRWP) and in close consultation with other key stakeholders, including deaneries, the DH and those anaesthetists involved in the recruitment to the specialty.

CT2 and ST3 Recruitment for 2010
Recruitment for CT2 and ST3 for 2010 is now almost complete and a thorough analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of this first coordinated approach is being conducted. This has included the production of lessons identified from the CT2 and ST3 recruitment, which will be used to inform and improve recruitment for 2011 and beyond. An applicants’ survey and a recruiters’ survey have been conducted and this information is being used to inform the planning for 2011.

Recruitment for 2011
Planning is currently taking place on a coordinated approach to anaesthesia recruitment for all points of entry for 2011 (CT1, CT2, ACCS and ST3). This is being conducted in close liaison with the Department of Health and the West Midlands NHS Workforce Deanery.

An initial proposal and timeline is available to view. This proposal is a first draft and will be refined through a process of further planning and consultation. Consultation will include Regional Advisers, College Tutors, Heads of School and Programme Directors and has already included a workshop conducted in June to discuss the key issues and challenges faced in conducting coordinated recruitment across all points of entry. Summary slides and notes were produced following this meeting and will be used to assist the NRWP in further planning.

The Department of Health has put forward a proposal to the Medical Programme Board to consider a coordinated CT1 recruitment for 2011 across all specialties. This was discussed at a Recruitment Operational Group on 24 March 2010 and the Task and Finish Group on 30 March 2010. This proposal will be taken forward and may involve a pilot for 2011.

Recruitment to ACCS is still very much being discussed with the relevant Colleges and the ICACCST. No firm decisions have been made but planning is being conducted to include ACCS (Anaesthesia) as part of the Anaesthesia recruitment for 2011. It must be emphasised that this is a draft proposal .

Please see the following links for further information and guidance:

This page last updated on 23/06/2010