AQW 42927/22-27


Mr Gerry Carroll
People Before Profit Alliance
West Belfast


Tabled Date: 23/03/2026
Answered On Date: 13/04/2026
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the current opportunities for career development for specialist, associate specialist and speciality doctors.


Answer:
Since the development of a new specialist contract and a reformed speciality doctor contract in 2021, career progression and development as a SAS doctor have become more clearly defined.
SAS doctors progress clinically, and by contributing to wider roles within healthcare, for example, teaching and training of others, innovation, service development and modernisation, leadership or management and representative work.
Career development is supported in the contracts of SAS doctors with opportunities to take professional and study leave for study, research, teaching, examinations, visiting clinics and attending professional conferences and training.
The NIMDTA SAS Career development programme, which is funded by my Department, designs, delivers and quality assures an annual educational programme for Specialty, Associate Specialist and Specialist doctors substantively employed in HSCNI.
The SAS Career Development Programme is influenced by findings from regional and national SAS training needs and career development reports and national requirements for career progression.
The annual educational programme incorporates events, training, workshops, webinars and eLearning to enhance SAS knowledge and skills and to support their continuing professional development.
Courses delivered through the SAS Career Development Programme are designed to meet the GMC Generic Capabilities Framework competencies. These are required to be evidenced for career progression within SAS posts from Specialty doctor to Specialist and for Portfolio Pathway route to consultant posts.