The rigorous demands of anaesthetic training in the UK are well known, with long hours, high-stress situations, and the constant need for precision and vigilance. Adding to this the stress of COVID, change in the curriculum, and a wedding to plan led me to look for ways to refresh and rejuvenate myself.

Looking through the Health Education England (HEE) Gold Guide, you can find the information about an Out-of-Programme Career Break (OOPC). OOPCs allow trainees an opportunity to step away from training to give them time to pursue other interests, including interests not connected with medicine. This is different from the other out-of-programme options which are more related to clinical training (OOPT), clinical experience (OPPE) or research (OOPR). This led me down a path I will never regret.