HEE announces greater flexibility for doctors in training

Health Education England has announced plans to provide greater flexibility to trainees across the country by extending its out of programme pause programme (OOPP) to include all specialties.

Allowing trainees to take a break from training pressures and work in a service facing role, the aim is to support trainees’ well-being in a post-coronavirus environment by providing break from training and allow them the opportunity to gain other competencies.

OOPP allows trainees to pause their training in order to work in the NHS or similar patient facing roles in the UK. The experiences and competences which they gain will be considered on their return to their training programme. This offer is available immediately and is open for applications for one year.

Sheona MacLeod, Acting Director of Education and Quality at HEE, said: “I am delighted that we are able to make this offer to the country’s doctors in training many of whom have supported the NHS during this very challenging period. We are committed to making sure that there are mechanisms in place to fully support trainees well-being and education. It is important that we can offer trainees as much flexibility as possible and this is an opportunity for them to step off the training ladder and gain new experiences and competencies.”