Strengthening SAS Education: Reflections from MedLed’s SAS Tutors Roundtable

Shared Challenges, Shared Purpose

What stood out most from the discussion was how similar many of the challenges are across different trusts. Engagement, funding, and course delivery came up again and again, with everyone keen to find ways of making SAS education more consistent and sustainable.

Despite the different approaches to funding and support in each region, there was a shared commitment to making SAS education a real priority. The Portfolio Pathway and leadership development programmes in particular continue to attract a lot of interest from SAS doctors, and there’s a growing appetite for courses that help them take those next steps.

Boosting Engagement and Attendance

A big part of the conversation focused on engagement - how to get more doctors involved in SAS forums and courses, and how to make those sessions as valuable as possible.

Tutors shared plenty of practical ideas, including:

• Giving people plenty of notice (and a few reminders) before events

• Offering a mix of virtual and face-to-face sessions

• Choosing good venues with decent food for in-person sessions

• Varying the day of the week to fit around clinical work

• Encouraging word-of-mouth promotion among SAS colleagues

Many agreed that smaller, interactive groups tend to work best, and even small touches - like helping people with car-sharing - can make a real difference to turnout.

Funding Realities Across Trusts

Funding continues to be a sticking point for many. Several tutors spoke about delays in budget releases or extra approval steps that can make planning difficult. Others have found ways to access funding directly from NHSE or HEE for certain programmes, but there’s still inconsistency in how easily resources can be accessed across different regions.

Even with these hurdles, there was a clear sense of determination in the group - everyone wants to make sure that SAS doctors have fair access to quality development opportunities, wherever they’re based.

Spotlight on the Portfolio Pathway

The Portfolio Pathway was a key theme throughout the session. Tutors agreed that courses tailored to this pathway - particularly those that are shorter, flexible, and specialty-specific - would be the most valuable.

At MedLed, we’re now developing a set of courses designed to support SAS doctors on this route, combining leadership, human factors, and patient safety topics that align closely with portfolio requirements.

Looking Ahead

Before closing, the group agreed on some next steps to keep the momentum going:

• MedLed will continue developing Portfolio Pathway-focused courses in partnership with SAS tutors.

• Tutors will look at ways to boost engagement, from early advertising to reminder campaigns.

• Future sessions will explore how SAS development can align with the CESR Pathway and the NHS 10-Year Plan.

• Everyone will keep sharing ideas and feedback on course design and delivery models.

Keeping the Conversation Going

This roundtable was one of several we’re running as part of a wider conversation about the future of SAS development. It was encouraging to see such openness, honesty, and collaboration from everyone involved.

At MedLed, we’ll keep building on these discussions - listening to tutors, refining our courses, and helping trusts deliver the kind of development that SAS doctors genuinely value.

We’d like to thank everyone who joined the session and shared their insight. The enthusiasm and commitment from this community are exactly what’s driving progress in SAS education.

As one participant summed up: “When we share what works, we all move a little closer to the kind of SAS education our colleagues deserve.”

If you’d like to hear more about our upcoming SAS courses or join the next roundtable, get in touch with us at MedLed - we’d love to hear from you.