TRAINEE doctors who are absent from work for 14 days or more in a 12 month period may have to extend their training time, the General Medical Council has announced.
Those who take time off due to sickness, maternity or compassionate leave might have to have the date of their certificate of completion of training (CCT) pushed back.
The regulator confirmed its position in a recent statement that advises doctors that absence from training, other than for study or annual leave, could affect their ability to meet the competences and pass the necessary assessments to secure a CCT in their chosen specialty.
The move is a bid to ensure all trainees are treated fairly as absence policies vary across different specialties and deaneries.
From April, trainees who have been absent for 14 days or more during a year will be assessed at their annual review of competence progression (ARCP) to see if they would be able to meet all the competency requirements in their specialty curriculum.
The deanery will assess the timing, history and nature of the absence, the nature of the training that has been missed and the trainee’s performance and assessment. If there are any shortcomings, these could be dealt with through targeted training or extended training.
This page was correct at the time of publication. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.
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