Evaluation of flexible (part-time) training in anaesthesia.

One hundred and six former or current flexible trainees in anaesthesia responded to a questionnaire evaluating their part-time training (a response rate of 71%). They were compared with a group of 32 flexible trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology. Anaesthetists were more satisfied than obstetricians and gynaecologists with their training (96% compared with 84%); opportunities to publish (75% and 63%); research training (63% and 48%); and monitoring of their progress (78% and 67%). Without flexible training, 20% of the anaesthetists would have ceased to train, compared with 9% of the obstetrics and gynaecology group. Nearly all those who had finished their training were working as consultants (54% of the whole group); 4% had either retired, become a clinical assistant or a locum consultant. The remainder (42%) were senior registrars.