74 Retention of Surgical Trainees in England

Abstract Background Surgical training is a competitive process attracting highly motivated clinicians. The National Health Service currently facing long waiting lists and workforce crisis yet there paucity of data regarding attrition surgical trainees in England. This study aims to describe the from 2016-2021 explore relationship between specialty competition ratios rates. Method Data was obtained Education England by freedom information requests. Binary logistic regression analyses explored differences specialties. Spearman’s correlation used assess Results From 2016 2021, 481 have left training, with an average yearly rate 2.68%. number varied considerably across specialties Paediatric Surgery having highest at 4.20% Trauma & Orthopaedic (T&O) lowest 1.52%. Compared General Surgery, Neurosurgery, T&O Plastic were significantly less likely leave their respective programmes (OR 95% CI 0.53 (0.33 – 0.85) p = 0.009, 0.44 (0.34 0.58) p<0.001, 0.51 0.78) 0.002, respectively). Attrition rates inversely related ratios, more experiencing (ρ - 0.302 (p 0.078)). Conclusions These highlight increasing over recent years, some greater than others. Qualitative research exit interviews are needed ascertain causal factors behind improve retention this skilled workforce.