Is flexible training still an attractive alternative?

As mothers of young children, our decision to train flexibly was made to enable us to achieve an optimal work/home balance. Overall, it has been a favourable experience, although we have encountered some difficulties. The West Midlands training scheme is efficient and encouraging, our consultants are supportive and our peers are understanding. This is in contrast to the situation in other medical specialties, and it is encouraging to report that psychiatry is one of the most accommodating.

However, as flexible trainees we often experience problems with staff in the personnel and finance departments caused by their perceived increase in paper work as a result of flexible training. A recurring complaint from the majority of flexible trainees is the failure of the finance department to pay them the correct wages. This problem has escalated owing to the new pay deal for flexible trainees which does not seem to have been communicated clearly to the personnel and finance departments. There seems to be no alternative than to enter into prolonged and time-consuming discussion with staff in these departments and it can take many months to resolve the situation. Unfortunately we have also discovered that our pensions have been incorrectly calculated. This has caused one of us so much stress that she has chosen to return to full-time training.

At a time of uncertainty for trainees, our hope is that serious thought continues to be given to making flexible training an attractive alternative for those who would otherwise not return to training. Competency-based assessment should suit flexible trainees who often work efficiently in fewer hours. However, improved communication between the deanery and staff in the personnel and finance departments would help to alleviate some of the financial problems encountered.