Too often in the past, resident doctors have felt they’ve been asked for their views after the real decisions have been made.

University Hospitals Tees is taking a different tack. By embedding resident doctors in senior decision making, the trust is building a structure and culture where they can help shape the services they deliver.

The Resident Doctor Forum now reports into the Local Negotiating Committee and resident doctors have a regular place on the Clinical Strategy Council agenda, allowing them to raise issues and report progress on key 10 Point Plan initiatives.

There have been a series of practical improvements as a result. The trust introduced one of the first annual leave policies in the country allowing resident doctors to book leave up to 2 years in advance, including before they rotated into the organisation.

It has also implemented a ‘Too Tired to Drive’ policy to support doctors working long or demanding shifts.

After feedback that existing systems were difficult to access and time-consuming to use, University Hospitals Tees worked with trainees to develop a simplified reporting process using a single online form. The new approach removed barriers to reporting, reduced administrative burden and made it easier for doctors to raise concerns about working patterns and training opportunities.

The trust is also working with resident doctors to protect self-development and learning time within work schedules, ensuring doctors have dedicated opportunities for portfolio development, specialist learning and career progression.