SAS Week celebrates Specialty, Associate Specialist, Specialist (SAS) and Locally Employed (LE) doctors, recognising the vital role they play in delivering safe, high-quality care across the NHS.
Explore the benefits of choosing a SAS career, the development opportunities it offers and how employing specialist (senior SAS) posts in O&G can help to address workforce gaps, improve retention, and strengthen service delivery.
“SAS and LE doctors are an extremely important, highly valued, and expanding tranche of the medical workforce. These doctors bring a wealth of expertise, experience, and dedication to our specialty. The RCOG hugely values their contribution, and I am personally very proud of our ongoing work to engage, celebrate and support SAS and LEDs, including through the work of our exemplary SAS and LED Committee. ”
Dr Alison Wright, PRCOG
Watch: SAS as a career choice
Laura Hipple,former Vice President for Membership and Workforce (2022 - 2025), reflects on what it means to choose a SAS career, the positive contributions SAS and LEDs bring and how the wider workforce can be supportive of doctors in these roles.
Insight and advocacy
During #SASweek26, we are showcasing a unit that is supporting SAS and Locally Employed doctors to achieve their full potential and thrive in their roles. Read our guest blog from College Tutors, Diane Nzelu and Neera Balachandran, who share how UCLH has secured educational supervision for early career SAS and LEDs, ensuring all doctors feel valued and supported.
Find out more about the potential that employing specialist (senior SAS) posts in obstetrics and gynaecology offers individuals and the service in this guest blog by Dr Julie Anne Forbes, RCOG Associate and Co Vice-Chair of the RCOG SAS and LED Committee.
The RCOG SAS and LED Committee has representatives across the UK who can help you engage with the College, share experiences and ensure the voices of SAS and LE doctors in O&G are represented.
The SAS Collective’s #SASsix campaign sets out six principles to support the SAS workforce. Read the College's campaign support statement to learn how these principles align with RCOG work to support the inclusion and visibility of SAS and LE roles in the workforce.
SAS doctors in leadership and educational roles
From flexible working and clinical leadership to education, advocacy and inclusion, each profile shows how SAS and LE doctors improve care, strengthen teams and shape the future of O&G.
In this blog, Dr Phyo Zaw Wai, Specialty Doctor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) and SAS Advocate at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, discusses their role representing the East of England on the RCOG SAS & LED Committee and what SAS advocacy means for the wider workforce.
Find out why doctors choose to pursue a career as a SAS doctor, the opportunities this career pathway offers, and the contributions SAS and LE doctors bring to the O&G workforce in leadership and educational roles.
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Join the RCOG as an Associate by Thursday 31 December 2026 with the code UKASSOCIATE to get 25% on your first year.