9th March 2026
Innovative new programme to support young doctors
The Southern Trust is introducing an innovative new programme to support the development of medical staff and improve service stability.
Shaped by young doctors, the new multi-year rotational programme, offers a development pathway for locally employed doctors who are not in a formal national training programme. It includes structured pathways, supervision, support and opportunities to develop competencies and a career within the organisation.
Health and Social Care Trusts directly employ doctors across a range of medical specialties, in fixed term, non-training posts.
Dr Georgia Moore and Dr Sarah Glover, both locally employed by the Southern Trust, developed the concept in response to feedback from their peers.
Dr Moore, a clinical fellow in general medicine at Daisy Hill Hospital, explains: “Working in medicine is highly rewarding but also quite challenging, with huge demand for limited places, leaving many early-career doctors without structured training posts and creating critical workforce gaps. Those of us who opt for the clinical fellow route, will typically secure a one-year contract which really can limit your chance to establish and develop a career in any one hospital or Trust. Our colleagues are thinking about visas, mortgages, families and long-term plans. They would like the confidence to commit to a job for two to three years not just a few months at a time, with the constant worry of securing their next placement.”
Dr Sarah Glover, who is currently a foundation doctor in the intensive care unit in Craigavon Area Hospital continues: “This programme has been shaped directly by doctors’ experiences and priorities. It offers structured rotational posts, protected development time, portfolio support and clear progression pathways alongside the security of a multi-year contract. More importantly, there are real benefits to the service when doctors can build strong knowledge of the local health and social care system, improving patient flow through the hospital and overall patient safety and experience.”
The programme is being rolled out through the Southern Trust’s Academy structure which supports doctor development. Deputy Medical Director for Education and Workforce, Dr Aisling Diamond who has endorsed the project says: “A, highly skilled workforce is absolutely essential for the delivery of safe and effective health care. With growing demand for services and ongoing workforce challenges across all professions, we want to stabilise and develop staffing across the organisation.
“We have a really enthusiastic team of locally employed doctors who make an invaluable contribution to our medical workforce. Through this programme, we aim to attract, retain, invest and cultivate this talent to develop long term careers here, ultimately for the greater benefit of our patients.”
Dr Haider Khan is in his final year of an Internal Medicine Training post in another Trust but lives in Craigavon so is keen to secure a job locally. He says: “The Southern Trust is a great place to live and work, with a manageable cost of living compared to some other areas. It is really tough to get into training posts and when you do, quite demanding to maintain studying and developing a CV in addition to working. The rotational programme for two to three years is a really attractive opportunity for doctors like me to establish a career and contribute to their local community.”
Dr Abdelazem Elsherbeny, joined the Southern Trust through an overseas recruitment exercise to India in 2023 and was supported through the portfolio pathway to become a Consultant Urologist at Craigavon Area Hospital. Dr Elsherbeny who has now relocated his family to pursue a career here says: “The very practical support from the medical recruitment team has been crucial in helping international colleagues to settle in. Everything from organising taxis from the airport, providing welcome kits, guiding us to accommodation and around our new surroundings, and navigating all the challenges of living and working in a different country.
“The support from colleagues and managers in the Southern Trust is fantastic. Having invested so much time and effort to set up a life and establish an overseas career, I do feel that both the doctors and the organisation will really benefit from a longer development programme for these colleagues.”
Watch what our doctors have to say about a multi-year development programme here.
Any doctors interested in finding out more about the programme can
Email: Medical.Recruitment@southerntrust.hscni.net
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