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Department of Health announces an extra £7m for the professional development of Specialty Doctors and Associate Specialists

Update 24 June 2008

The BMA Staff and Associate Specialists Committee received a response letter from the Department of Health on 12 March 2008 regarding the press release announcing an extra £7 million for the professional development of SAS doctors.

The letter comes as a response to an earlier letter (26 February 2008) sent by Mohib Khan (Co-Chair, SASC UK) to Health Minister Ann Keen regarding the announcement. The BMA Staff and Associate Specialists Committee reservedly welcomed the commitment, whilst seeking clarification on how monies for professional development would be allocated and accessed by SAS doctors, and how long the funding would be available for.

SASC then received a response from Ann Keen in March which aimed to provide clarification on the points raised by Mohib Khan. Download this letter to the BMA Staff and Associates Committee in PDF format using the link on the right.

Since receipt of the letter SASC has written twice to ask for a meeting and with suggestions for the better use of funding, including the suggestion that funding is ringfenced, monitored and uplifted in future years as the grade grows in numbers. We are yet to receive a response to either letter.