The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in new ways of working for everyone in healthcare, with some healthcare professionals being redeployed to another speciality completely.  Redeployment can pose a host of practical difficulties and concerns to those being redeployed, such as; will I be out of my depth? Am I going to be putting myself and my family at risk? How will my training and career be affected? In this episode we are in conversation with two surgical trainees and a PSU coach, to discuss their experience of being redeployed, the highs and lows, and  the approaches one may take in addressing the concerns that arise. We look also at some of the positives that can be drawn when in the face of uncertainty.

Biographies:  

Abhinav Singh is a Trauma & Orthopaedics Registrar in the Imperial Deanery and a part-time MSc student at the University of Oxford. He is interested in surgical research, focusing on clinical outcomes for paediatric patients. Outside of work, he enjoys playing cricket and running.

Peter Lion is a higher surgical trainee in ENT in North London. He studied medicine in Brighton and has subsequently worked in Scotland, Wales and England. He has an interest in medical education.

Kathleen Sullivan is a Senior Coach for the PSU and an Associate with Career Planning for Doctors and Dentists. Kathleen specialises in transformational coaching and satisfying career transitions for doctors. Her integrated approach draws on modalities including Solutions Focus, Constellations, and Thinking Partnerships.

Victoria Twigg is a higher surgical trainee in ENT in North London undertaking a fellowship at HEE looking at early-years surgical education across the region. She has an interest in leadership and management across the healthcare sector, with a focus on workforce policy.