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.
I am a Specialty Doctor in obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) and a SAS (Specialty, Associate Specialist and Specialist) Advocate at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I am also involved in supporting the wider SAS and LED (Locally Employed Doctor) community and represent the East of England within the RCOG SAS & LED Committee. In 2021, I began working in O&G in the NHS as a locally employed doctor (LED) at SHO and registrar level before becoming a Specialty Doctor in July 2024.
There is sometimes a misconception that becoming a SAS doctor means stopping your career progression, but my experience has been the opposite. The SAS role offers many opportunities to develop clinically and professionally, take on leadership responsibilities and make a meaningful contribution to the wider organisation. Choosing a SAS career has allowed me to continue developing as a clinician, whilst also pursuing areas that I am passionate about, particularly medical education, leadership and quality improvement.
What is SAS advocacy?
SAS advocacy is much broader than one specialty. Many of the challenges we face – job planning, Supporting Professional Activities (SPA) time, career progression, access to education, recognition, wellbeing and leadership opportunities – are shared across specialties.
SAS doctors are a very diverse group. Some are highly experienced clinicians who have worked within an organisation for many years, while others may be relatively new to the NHS or developing towards Specialist registration. Despite the contribution they make, SAS doctors can sometimes be less visible within traditional training and leadership structures.
Having an advocate means there is someone who can listen, represent their views and help ensure that SAS doctors have equitable access to development and leadership opportunities. For me, advocacy is not only about dealing with problems; it is also about creating opportunities and helping SAS doctors recognise what they can achieve.
Being a SAS Advocate
I became my trust’s SAS Advocate in July 2025, with 0.25 Programmed Activities (PAs). I see the role as being a visible and approachable point of contact for SAS doctors. My responsibilities include listening to colleagues, identifying concerns affecting SAS doctors, signposting them to appropriate support and raising wider or recurrent issues with the relevant people within the organisation.
The role requires collaboration with many stakeholders. I work with SAS and LED colleagues, clinical and educational leads, workforce teams and union representatives.
A crucial part of the role is promoting career development, education, leadership opportunities and professional recognition for SAS doctors, working closely with the SAS Tutor.
Making an impact
One of the things I am particularly proud of is helping to create opportunities for SAS and LE doctors to come together, learn from each other and become more visible. I have been involved in organising SAS and LED forums and educational activities, including opportunities for colleagues to present quality-improvement and audit work, discuss career progression and portfolio development, and share their achievements.
For me, the success is not simply organising an event. It is seeing colleagues become more confident, present their work, develop their portfolios and recognise that being an SAS or LE doctor does not limit what they can achieve.
The most rewarding part of being a SAS Advocate is helping people feel that their voice matters.
Sometimes a colleague does not necessarily need someone to solve a problem immediately. They need somebody who understands their position, listens to them and can help them navigate the system.
One of the biggest benefits has been increasing the visibility and professional identity of SAS and LE doctors. SAS doctors are not simply doctors filling rota gaps. They are clinicians, educators, researchers, quality-improvement leaders and an important source of continuity and institutional knowledge. When SAS doctors are supported properly, the benefits extend beyond the individual doctor. They contribute to workforce stability, education, service improvement, patient safety and organisational leadership.
Developing as a SAS Advocate
The role has helped me develop my leadership, communication, negotiation, networking and organisational skills. It has also taught me how organisations work beyond my own clinical department—how concerns are escalated, how different stakeholders work together and how change can be achieved.
For those considering becoming an Advocate, I would say go for it—but be prepared to listen. Advocacy is not about having all the answers. It is about being approachable, understanding the challenges colleagues face, creating opportunities and helping ensure that SAS voices are heard.
Find out more:
- Access resources and guidance for Speciality, Associate Specialist, and Specialist (SAS) doctors, as well as Locally Employed (LE) doctors in O&G.
- Find out more about the role of the SAS Advocate.
- Explore additional RCOG SAS Week content.