Everything You Wanted To Know About Broad Based Training (But Were Afraid To Ask!)

Broad Based Training provides a breadth of experiences and the time to further develop as a clinician. For me, this time allowed me to learn more about myself as a doctor and I ended up choosing a speciality I had not been considering at all, but which I am very happy working in now! My experience in Grampian was always very well supported and gave me realistic insight into what working as a junior speciality trainee was like. The 10% time allowed me to explore areas of medicine which I had never been exposed to before. It sparked my curiosity for learning, reminding me of one of the reasons I chose medicine in the first place and how exciting and interesting it can be!

I did BBT in Inverness straight after foundation. I found it was a great way to gain more experience before deciding on a further training pathway. I particularly enjoyed the way the BBT program tries to parallel the training of each specialty you are in for each job (for example joining in with the deanery teaching days and GP training days in GP). The 10% time was also really great and gave the opportunity to explore an area that you wouldn't usually get to see in the 'normal' jobs of training.

I was in the first group back in 2018 and originally applied as when I entered FY2 I didn't know what training programme I wanted to go into however had always liked adult medicine, paediatrics and psych - I actually thought that GP was going to be the training programme for me therefore when BBT came up it was the perfect combination of rotations.

As I was in the first intake there were certainly a lot of teething issues mostly with rotas and getting the 10% time however after some education about the programme I never had any issues. I loved the 10% time for getting to explore my own interests although it did require a lot of admin! For example I spent some time with the eating disorders team, perinatal mental health team, under 12s inpatient psychiatry unit, teenage cancer trust and specialist ID teams. 

I think it was the perfect programme for me - it is very different doing the job as a junior registrar rather than a foundation doctor and gave me a good insight into how training and future consultant jobs work in each speciality. As I was in Lanarkshire I did a spilt paediatric rotation of 3 months in neonates and paediatrics giving me a different experience to some other locations - this was crucial experience when I had chosen paediatrics as my speciality at the end as I had some experience in both areas. Although I thought I would want to do GP after my rotation I quickly realised that this was not the job for me and did not enjoy the rotation. 

I chose paediatrics and I am currently a ST6 in GGC. I still maintain that BBT was the best programme for me at that stage in training as I don't think I would've entered another programme at the end of FY2. I found being able to experience each rotation as a junior reg was invaluable experience and definitely helped me solidify my love for paediatrics (and perhaps my dislike for other specialities). I think if I hadn't done BBT and ended up going straight to paediatrics (probably after some years of locuming/fellow jobs) on those hard runs of on-calls shifts and unwell patients I would have always thought I would have had GP to fall back on and considering changing specialities - however that would have been a terrible idea for me! I also think it is invaluable time that you get to experience other specialities and actually go into your future speciality more prepared than others.

I think the only negative would be the understanding of the programme and the aims that other people had. I chose to go into paediatric and did find when I entered training that people thought I had taken the 'back door' entry rather than going through the application process. I definitely felt I had to defend my training and process of entering into paediatrics.

Broad based training so far has been really enjoyable. It feels like a training job and not just service provision! With the 10% time you have the chance to explore your interests whatever they may be - from remote and rural medicine to sexual health to palliative care. The study budget and study day allowance gives you the chance to complete courses and attend conferences to further build your portfolio. 

The four rotations gives a strong foundation which will be useful in whichever training programme you then choose to enter. The programme gives a real focus on holsitic care and realistic medicine. 

My colleagues in NHS Highland have been fantastic and working with the mountains on your doorstep helps encourage that ever important work-life balance! I would strongly recommend this programme to anyone who is considering a career in any of the four rotations as to date I can only say positive things.

I switched into BBT from an other training program, with a plan to go back to it if I did not enjoy the other specialties. I found that I enjoyed the two other specialties more than my original specialty. BBT also gave me the time and flexibility to try niche shadow niche subspecialties and clinics I had interest in. Ultimately, BBT changed the trajectory of my career in a good way.