I have worked as a specialty doctor in anaesthetic/ICU at Macclesfield District General Hospital, East Cheshire NHS Trust for the last six years. I hope that by sharing my experience, it will inspire my colleagues to step up and make a change or seek career progression because it’s possible.

I had been working as a consultant in anaesthetic/ICU in my home, the  Republic of Moldova for five years. I decided to move abroad to, hopefully, progress in my career and find a better work-family-time balance. After arriving in the UK, I accepted the specialty doctor post.

Joining the BMA

But the question for me really was ‘who am I?’ – what position do I hold in the medical/ department hierarchy? At the time of my recruitment, I was offered a few pages of a contract – 12 to be honest – and on all points, was a directory sending me to the BMA SAS 2008 contract.

I decided to read it, all 87 pages, to get a clear idea of what is expected from me, and what support I can count on. Then, I joined BMA, wanting to have a strong ally in my practice and feel supported.

Considering the options for career progression

I started questioning my career progression a few years later as I was considering that training/CESR route would allow me to progress to a consultant post. But I struggled to prepare for the exams, getting evidence for CESR, and it started to impact my life as a mum/wife. With no family to support me, I was getting into constant burnout, so I decided to step back and try an alternative route for career progression.

I then discovered teaching, which I now enjoy more than my substantive role, I trained as an educational/clinical supervisor, registered with GMC, and started a new role – block lead for anaesthetics /ICU for Buckingham Apollo students.

Being active and visible led me to being elected as LNC SAS representative, and out me in a strong position to help my colleagues to progress and address the issues at the workplace.

Taking the big step

When an incident happened in my practice, I decided to step up and make a change for patient safety. I initiated the vascular access service at my trust, supported the business case/presented at the chief executive board, and after acceptance, I was named lead for the vascular access service at East Cheshire NHS Trust.

I was supported enormously by my clinical lead and the management team, but it took me more that a year to have this considered and accepted. Lots of bureaucratic steps needed to be followed, financial implications were required, and these were making me want to give up few times. But my stubborn character and the belief that the change was needed made me to stay strong in my position and carry on.

Looking back now, it was a great experience, and a demonstration that change can happen, if you wish to pursue it. Being a specialty doctor can bring you the career progression and work satisfaction you wish to have, and it’s important to keep taking steps and growing, as both a person and a doctor.