The transition to specialty training can often be quite daunting. Overnight, trainees change from being an experienced core trainee, competent in dealing with all aspects of O&G at this level of training, to being a junior registrar. To support trainees the School of O&G has a robust package of workplace support.
Levels of workplace support include:
Local support – specific to training needs
- KSS O&G trainee representatives foster a supportive and inclusive sense of belonging within the trainee body and specialty within KSS, and act as an effective interface between the trainees and the deanery. Each year group has a trainee representative. Visit the trainee representative webpage to find out more about their roles.
- Ruth Mason is KSS’ Workplace Behaviour Lead and can be approached for all workplace issues, including workplace behaviour, undermining issues, health, and career advice.
- Mentorship – some trainees have a mentor allocated at their induction.
Deanery support
Deanery support includes support directly from the Head of School and Training Programme Directors for specific training years:
- ST1 to ST2 – Miss Sri Sanakran
- ST3 to ST5 – Miss Padma Vankayalapati
- ST6 to ST7 – Miss Catherine Wykes
Additional support includes:
- KSS Professional Support Unit provided by the London and KSS Healthcare Education Team.
- Careers Unit provided by the London and KSS Healthcare Education Team – they can be contacted via careersunit.lase@hee.nhs.uk.
- Less Than Full Time training
- KSS O&G LTFT guidance March 2026
- Out of Programme experience
National support
- The RCOG Academic Board has set up a mentorship scheme for academic trainees. For more information, read the academic mentorship scheme guidelines and see the list of academic mentors.
- HEE has a national commitment to support doctors returning to training after time out. Further information can be viewed on the HEE national website.