The department should have adequate remunerated time allocated to all clinical leaders to perform their roles in integrated governance, which recognises the breadth and depth of their roles within the department and wider hospital management structures.5,13 Adequate remunerated time may be facilitated through diarising time spent on a role and reviewing this as part of the job planning process.
Clinical leaders should have processes to work with their team in an iterative way to develop guidance and share these ongoing developments with the team and beyond.
There should be clarity of leadership and roles in the coordination of the day to day running of theatres, including the emergency anaesthesia service. Those undertaking these roles should be visible, clearly identifiable and easily accessible at all times.
Appropriate training and development should be offered across all aspects of a leadership role and identified in personal development plans (PDPs) as part of whole practice appraisal.
Departments should encourage the development of new leaders at all stages during an anaesthetic career.
SAS doctors and trainees should be encouraged to engage in leadership opportunities.
Departments should have a workforce plan in line with their overall strategy and annual business plan that includes recruitment, opportunities for flexible working and staff retention. The plan should ensure a level of staffing and skill mix that meets current service and educational requirements with sufficient flexibility to ensure staff are not overstretched. It should be reviewed regularly and consider...
Departments should ensure that they have the appropriate skill mix for their various clinical activities and that this mix is maintained through appropriate developmental opportunities for their staff.17
Departments should ensure that they undertake succession planning reviews regularly to minimise the risk of disruption to clinical and non-clinical activity when key personnel leave, retire or change their job plans. Those taking on new roles should have time allocated to allow for a sufficient period of handover with those they replace.
