It is appreciated that not all doctors would want to work as a consultant, and many have therefore chosen to be SAS doctors for various personal reasons and family circumstances. This is not necessarily a reflection on their capabilities, and most are as competent and experienced as new consultants.
Doctors aspiring to apply for substantive consultant posts in the UK must be on the specialist register. For those who did not go into a formal training programme in the UK or have trained abroad, Certificate of Eligibility for Specialty Registration (CESR), previously known as ‘Article 14’ provides an alternative to CCT or CCST for entry on the specialist register. Quite a few doctors have been successful in achieving CESR, and some have subsequently taken up consultant posts. There is an increasing interest in CESR as part of the solution of the workforce shortfall and there is more advice and support coming available all the time. CESR leads and champions have been appointed in several Trusts in the region and Royal Colleges have information and support from SAS leads to help you decide if this is the career plan for you but also what is needed in your specialty.
All current applications for CESR are now processed by the GMC, and you can apply online. Please visit the GMC website and search CESR for advice on the application types and the CESR/CEGPR process. There are also links to the specialty specific guidance in relevant specialties.
It is very important to check that you are eligible to apply for CESR before starting the process of gathering evidence and while you are waiting, keep a record of what you are doing in your role as this may be needed as evidence in the future. Clinical cases, theatre lists, audits etc will be useful for the application.
Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) have a useful website with information and links relevant for an application for CESR.
How to apply for Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) - HEIW (nhs.wales)
CESR Leads and Mentors
Gloucester: p.scanlon@nhs.net Ophthalmology and general advice on CESR programmes
Yeovil: Sarmad.shah@ydh.nhs.uk
UHBW: oladotun.abidakan@uhbw.nhs.uk
Taunton: Hemant.aaytee@SomersetFT.nhs.uk