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2 August 2019
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Good night and good luck! – reflections on seven years with the Trainee Steering Group

The Trainee Steering Group (TSG) was founded on 26 January 2012 – over seven years ago, which sounds like an awfully long time. These days, I struggle to remember what I had for breakfast, yet I do still remember walking down Waterloo Road, on my way to the very first meeting. I felt apprehensive; uncertain of what to expect. I recall talking to Anna Moore, the first FMLM clinical fellow, and Peter Lees. I remember the optimism that was generated from the meeting of minds that had just taken place. I left feeling that I had made the right decision to apply and take up a post with the TSG.

The role that I was appointed to was that of Lead for Recruitment and Engagement; secondarily, I was given the opportunity to have a say in shaping the policy, direction and structure of the TSG. I’ve seen the TSG shrink, then expand; shrink, then expand. Personal highlights include all of the national conferences, running nationwide recruitment drives, and the chance to work with the renowned law firm, Kingsley Napley, to put together a series of medico-legal seminars.

Then there were the face to face sessions – always, the loveliest of days. At times, they felt like coming up for air; we were away from the daily chaos of clinical practice, but close enough to engage with the issues at hand. Circling back to my role as recruitment lead, I was able to talk to so many trainee doctors about their ideas, dreams and visions. It has been an honour to have met so many future leaders at a very early stage in their careers. With all this going on, seven years have felt more like ten minutes.

But what a seven years it’s been – Scotland decided it would stay with the UK after all; then the UK decided it would leave Europe; and now no one can seem to decide anything! All this with an American president, who can be described as ‘interesting’, at best.

During these turbulent years, our National Health Service seems to have been presented with a scandal or a crisis on an almost daily basis – Staffordshire, the contracts, Bawa-Garba, to name just a few.

And yet it’s still standing.

It is with immeasurable pride that I tell people that I was, at one point, the longest serving member of the TSG. I would like to thank for their hard work, enthusiasm and support – Peter Lees and Kirsten Armit, who have been present since day one of FMLM; and also, all members of the office and the TSG, past and present. Seven years ago, medical leadership and management was still seen as some sort of dark art. It’s because of their significant contributions that it is now recognised to be an essential aspect of clinical practice and training; and it’s because of that commitment to leadership that I remain hopeful for our NHS and the millions who use it.

My last words are for the current TSG. The challenge for you, as it always has been, and will continue to be, is this: keeping a clear sight of purpose in an increasingly fractured and uncertain world. Such a challenge is nebulous, vast and without easy solutions, but I know that this is the kind of task you all relish! It is because of this, and so much more, that I am assured of the future of the TSG and FMLM.

“Good night – and good luck!”

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