Make an application for flexible (part time) training.

Part time training posts are advertised in the BMJ each year in August or September in an advertisement placed by the Department of Health. Although the advertisement is placed by the department and manpower approvals are allocated centrally, each region runs its own scheme, and the first person to approach is the regional postgraduate dean (most regions have an assistant dean responsible for flexible training). If an application is successful then part time trainees are interviewed by the same appointments committee as full time applicants and they are judged by the same criteria. Manpower approval is granted to applicants who reach the same standard as full time applicants, but there may be a waiting list if there are more suitable applicants than training places available. The next stage is to gain educational approval from the relevant higher training committee for the proposed training programme, followed by funding from the region.