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From the AiT Committee

‘But I’m only a trainee’. The immortal phrase strikes again. If I had a pound for every time it was uttered in conversation with a colleague, I would be rich. On talking with other AiTs about our profession and its challenges, the misconception that tangible change cannot be driven from within our ranks is depressingly common. Many feel disengaged from the processes that shape our training. Some, disheartened by the recent junior doctor contract dispute, question whether getting involved is worth the hassle. As Chair of our AiT Committee, I believe my job is to prove otherwise! Prior to joining the Committee, I held a similar view point – I felt like a very small fish in a very big pond. The challenges we face, both in primary care and our wider healthcare system, appear so systemic and complex that the notion I could influence any change seemed absurd. Despite this, I was frustrated by some aspects of my work and a mixture of this and innate curiosity got the better of me. I dipped my toe in the water. Fast-forward to now. It’s a Sunday morning and I’m catching up with work emails. As is typical, I’m amazed at the number of messages that all ask a similar question. ‘What is the trainee viewpoint?’, ‘Can a trainee attend?’, ‘We need representation from trainees, can you come?’. It’s music to my ears. Knowing the esteem in which the trainee voice is held, in all aspects of work at the RCGP and beyond, I’m heartened – these requests are sincere. As one of your representatives at College Council, alongside our Deputy Chair Nishma Manek, I can attest that this attitude ascends the highest echelons of our profession. As we’re often told by our trainers, our goals need to be ‘SMART’ – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. This attitude is key to our work as an AiT Committee. In delivering on our ‘SMART’ priorities, I hope to demonstrate that change is possible with a little enthusiasm, a solid team and a good idea. As trainees, we’ve had lots of ideas about how our ePortfolio and Workplace-based Assessments can be changed for the better. Through our Committee, we’ve worked with the development teams at College to positively improve elements within the portfolio. These future changes will include standardising the national approach to learning logs, reducing the number of some assessments and introducing new elements on quality improvement, leadership and prescribing. Another priority is working in closer collaboration with our First5 Committee, helping AiTs in our transition to working as fully qualified GPs. It can be an overwhelming and isolating time and we can feel unprepared for some of the aspects of GP life outside of the realms of the Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA). Collaborating with our First5 colleagues, we have designed transition events aimed at providing practical guidance and support during this tricky period. Watch out for these later in the year! At the opposite end of the spectrum, our Committee’s work with our Committee’s work with the RCGP student engagement team is off to a flying start. We want to help combat the denigration of our profession and improve exposure to general practice as a career. We now have trainees involved in events run by the team; providing trainee insight, acting as positive role models and being cheerleaders for primary care. At a recent student event, the topic of conversation turned to making an impact. We discussed that many of us want to see positive change, but fewer feel able to be the agent of that change. ‘But I’m only a student’ sounded the familiar words. I rolled up my sleeves. Recently I came across a presentation slide shared on twitter. ‘Never let anyone tell you you’re too young to accomplish something’, it began, ‘A baby shark is still a shark’. It made me smile. As AiTs and the future of general practice, we all have the power to influence change, whatever the scale. As a committee, we’re resolved to listen to the wide-ranging views held by trainees and strongly represent our colleagues when called upon to do so. To a small fish the pond can seem huge . . . but to a baby shark, it suddenly doesn’t seem quite so vast.