care in uncertainty: PROJECT 1
Building a Supportive Culture to Retain Resident Docttors
2023-2024 Innovation Fellowships, funded by the British Academy
The first Care in Uncertainty project focused on retaining Resident Doctors. In 2011, 71% doctors carried on training after Foundation Year 2. By 2022 this had fallen to 30% with two thirds of Resident Doctors leaving their training programme. The Care in Uncertainty team explored the root causes for this high number of withdrawals and looked at what improvements are needed to retain Resident Doctors.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
The Care in Uncertainty team collated their research findings which was published by the BMJ Leader into a summary document to inform NHS Trust leaders titled ‘NHS Trust Leaders can Prevent Resident Doctors’ Burnout and Quitting’, published July 2024. Click to open and download.
Driving Impact for Resident Doctors
Dr. Wen Wang and her team have made significant strides in disseminating research findings and practical solutions to enhance the working lives of resident doctors. Through collaborations with NHS England, the General Medical Council (GMC), Royal Colleges of Medicine, the Academy Resident Doctors’ Committee, and senior leaders from 10 NHS Trusts, the team has:
- Shared knowledge with 65 Directors of Medical Education and over 200 trainers.
- Co-created impactful practices with 500 resident doctors to ensure smooth employment transitions.
- Reached 1,000 healthcare professionals across the NHS.
Below is a list of invited talks, keynote speeches, and engagements that reflect the team’s ongoing efforts:
26/11/2024 ‘Leadership Building and Influencing’, Foundation Year doctors Weekly Teaching, the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
19/11/2024 ‘Building a Supportive Environment’, Foundation Year doctors Weekly Teaching, the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
08/11/2024 ‘Growing Our Doctors for Tomorrow’, University Hospitals of Leicester Annual Educator Day University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
21/10/2024 ‘The Resident Doctors’ Retention Project’, Global Healthcare and welling centre, Keele University
4/7/2024 ‘ What challenges are our doctors of tomorrow facing? Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust annual medical education conference
3/06/2024 ‘Compassionate leadership to retain trainee doctors’ NHS West Midlands Deanery-Directors of Medical Education quarterly meeting
22/5/2024 Compassionate leadership to retain trainee doctors’ Master class for trainers, NHS England West Midlands Deanery
26/04/2024 ‘Findings from the Trainee Doctors’ project’ NHS East Midlands Deanery-Directors of Medical Education quarterly meeting
07/04/2024 interviewed by the media team at the University of Leicester - Behind the Research: what you didn’t know about junior doctors and their workload struggles
13/03/2024 ‘3Rs to retain trainee doctors’ Mini-maser class for consultants, NHS England West Midlands Education
29/02/2024 ‘Trainee Doctors’ Retention Project’, NHS Workforce Event: Recruitment, Retention and Wellbeing
16/02/2024 ‘Trainee Doctors’ Employment Transition’ Interviewed by Dr Mat Daniel (Coach for medical doctors/health care team)
27/11/23 ‘ Findings from the Trainee Doctors’ Retention Project’ University Hospitals of Leicester EDI workgroup
27/6/2023 British Academy Innovation Fellowship Reception ‘The Future of Health Care’
30/11/2022 partnership with UK Parliament ‘Engage with the UK Parliament to Support Better Policy’
20/09/2022 ‘Sustain NHS Workforce Project’ Local Academics and Health Partnership Board
7/04/2022 NHS Health Executive live event, Panellist to address staff shortage and solutions - National Health Executive workforce event
22/03/2022 UK Parliament - Invited to offer oral evidence at the Health and Social Care Select Committee on 22 March 2022.
PROJECT TEAM
RESEARCH TEAM
Dr Wen Wang
Project Lead | University of Leicester
Dr Mark McCarthy
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS TrustCO-CREATION PANEL
Ms Louise Harmer
Medical Education Lead, Georger Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Dr Andrea Wilkinson
Clinical Education Fellow, George Eliot Hospital
Dr Christpher King
Chief Registrar at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
Dr Harry Knifton
Clinical Teaching Fellow, University Hospitals of Leicester
Mr Luke Ruffle
Head of Medical Education, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Christopher Leng
Consultant Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Northampton General Hospital NHS TrustPROJECT articles
- Date: 17 July 2024
BMJ Letters: Senior trust leaders who show understanding and compassion are crucial in retaining junior doctors
- Date: 27 June 2024
BMJ Journal: Can compassionate leadership of senior hospital leaders help retain trainee doctors?
- Date: 17 May 2024