@sascollective.com
A group of committed Specialist, Associate Specialist and Specialty (SAS) doctors, working to improve the careers and retention of doctors in the UK | #SASsix | #SASsky | #SASbyChoice | #SASdocsRock
Happy International Women's Day 2026 to all the inspirational SAS women out there.
This year's official UN #IWD2026 theme is #RightsJusticeAction.
Women all over the world have fewer opportunities to achieve their potential in healthcare, and worse health outcomes.
We must do better.
Fair enough. Give us two minutes, and the next one will be better!
We are, indeed!
The @fmlm-uk.bsky.social are the most recent organisation to publicly support the #SASsix campaign, because our aims align with theirs. Leadership matters a great deal.
The SAS Collective remains very grateful for that support, and for inviting us to take part in today's event.
One of our simultaneous sessions today - “SAS Leadership - Voice, Visibility and Impact”.
SAS six - implementing trusts. A slide with the Trusts who have adopted the SAS six, with a polar bear mascot pointing to the viewer saying "this could be you too!"
It is always a great day when we get to add another Trust to our slide.
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust have added implementation of the #SASsix to their medical EDI policy, which launched today.
Bravo!
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust - Medic Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Charter.
We are really pleased to see Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust launch their Medic EDI Charter today.
They use the #SASsix in their approach, because issues affecting SAS and locally-employed doctors are EDI and workforce issues.
Excellent work!
www.lscft.nhs.uk/diversity-an...
In response to today's announcement of support for the #SASsix campaign by @fmlm-uk.bsky.social, SAS Collective member @robjimfleming.bsky.social wrote a blog for our website.
"The days of the 'invisible' SAS doctor are over."
Read more here:
www.sascollective.com/leadershipno...
In a post on LinkedIn earlier, Prof Rich Withnall, @fmlm-uk.bsky.social CEO, said:
“I am delighted that FMLM has joined a growing coalition of influential healthcare organisations committed to meaningful reform for SAS and locally‑employed doctors."
#SASsix
We are absolutely delighted that Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management @fmlm-uk.bsky.social have decided to support our #SASsix campaign!
Thanks, folks. We really appreciate this!
#SASsix
A slide showing the 12 Trusts to have implemented, or publically pledged to implement, the SAS six in their approach to their workforce.
Leicester Partnership NHS Trust become the twelfth Trust we have been able to add to this slide, after their pledge today to use the SAS six in their approach to their workforce.
Could your Trust be next?
Get in touch!
www.leicspart.nhs.uk/news/our-sas...
We are absolutely thrilled that Leicester Partnership NHS Trust have chosen to join our collection of employers seeking to support their SAS and locally-employed workforce.
The #SASsix is a roadmap for change, and we love to see it used.
Bravo!
www.leicspart.nhs.uk/news/our-sas...
#SASsix
Thanks to all our new followers!
If you want to read a little more about the SAS six campaign, you can do so in a few places.
We wrote a blog for @nhsemployers.bsky.social here:
www.nhsemployers.org/articles/sup...
There is also some information on our website:
www.sascollective.com/sassix
SAS six - national support. Slide showing the 18 organisations who have publicly supported or endorsed the SAS six campaign. This list includes multiple medical royal colleges, other membership organisations and associations, and organisations representing medical education, leadership and people specialists.
In recent months many new organisations have decided to support or endorse the #SASsix campaign.
Most recent was @bashhuk.bsky.social, who did so yesterday.
Like us, these organisations believe that supporting every doctor to achieve their potential is right for the workforce.
Could you be next?
We are delighted that @bashhuk.bsky.social have decided to support our #SASsix campaign!
A lot of sexual health care is delivered by SAS doctors. Signposting a career for these doctors to achieve their potential is a vital part of supporting this workforce.
We look forward to working with you!
BASHH is proud to endorse the @sascollective.com's campaign, championing career progression, equity of opportunity, and support for SAS doctors around the UK through six essential 'asks'.
To view our statement of support, visit our website: bit.ly/3NFc773
The @rcphysicians.bsky.social have been important allies to the #SASsix campaign.
We agree entirely with President Mumtaz Patel in her rapid response to this weeks @bmj.com article.
Bravo!
‘Once a doctor has been employed in the same specialty by the same trust for more than two years, they should be moved to a nationally negotiated SAS contract.’
👉 Read our rapid response to a @bmj.com investigation revealing thousands of LEDs are trapped in insecure contracts: ow.ly/m9sm50XwQot
I spoke to doctors across England for this @bmj.com investigation. Senior medics leading services and training others but stuck on insecure contracts. Others with no supervision, training or progression - just filling rota gaps. Many egs of poor practice from NHS trusts. www.bmj.com/content/391/...
“We believe that locally employed doctors should be offered the appropriate permanent SAS contract for their work. As well as employment rights, this would give these folks the professional identity they are currently being denied.”
#SASsix
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
REVEALED: Thousands of NHS doctors are trapped in insecure 'gig economy' contracts. Bearded clown quoted as saying "Every doctor who doesn't achieve their potential is a catastrophe", which is true.
Bearded clown alert. Page 182 of today's BMJ.
There are successful, progressive careers to be had for doctors outside of rotational training. However, we have to decide as a profession to make it normal for all, and the NHS has to stop behaving like a 'gig economy' employer.
#SASsix
9/ Probably should have tagged some of these folks in the thread.
@bmj.com @gmcuk.bsky.social @redrunswick.bsky.social @emmajourno.bsky.social @parthaskar.bsky.social
8/ Alternative career pathways need parity of esteem, and we believe this is how it should be done.
Find out more about our work and our #SASsix campaign here:
www.sascollective.com
The #SASsix campaign infographic.
7/ Today's service must not come at the cost of tomorrow's. We believe this is the single biggest workforce issue of the day.
The #SASsix campaign is based around appropriate contract use, support for professional development, and the opportunity for senior doctors to become leaders and educators.
6/ As @rcphysicians.bsky.social reiterate in their rapid response (above), we must get better at supporting the careers of doctors outside of formal training programmes, or we won't keep them or see them reach their potential.
There should be no such thing as a "non-training" doctor.
5/ Many of the stories in this article are harrowing, and describe international medical graduates and early career UK graduates being exploited with inappropriate contracts, no prospects for career development, and little hope to be had.
www.rcp.ac.uk/news-and-med...
4/ Meanwhile, an expose in the BMJ brought the experiences of these locally-employed doctors, in short-term, non-standard "gig economy" contracts, into sharp focus.
You can read that one here:
www.bmj.com/content/391/...
3/ It also demonstrates that we don't retain these doctors in the workforce.
Read more here:
www.gmc-uk.org/about/what-w...
