Specialty, Specialist and Associate Specialist (SAS) Doctors (Wales)
9 August 2025
Pay, terms and conditions information relating to SAS Doctors in Wales.
Workforce
There are primarily two sets of Terms and Conditions of Service (TCS) in place for Specialty, Specialist and Associate Specialist (SAS) Doctors in Wales.
2021 (updated in 2024)
2008 (closed to new appointments from 1 April 2021)
In January 2021, a reformed Specialty Doctor contract and a new Specialist contract was agreed.
The new contracts apply to new staff entering the SAS grades from 1 April 2021 and to SAS doctors employed on new contracts from that date forwards.
Current doctors employed on the national TCS Specialty Doctor 2008 contract, those employed under the national closed TCS for Associate Specialists 2008, and those employed on other closed national SAS grades, have the option to transfer to the equivalent revised TCS or remain on current TCS.
Specialty and Specialist (SAS) Doctors (Wales) 2021 Contract
Terms and Conditions of Service 2021
In January 2021, an agreement was reached which covers a three-year agreement from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2024 for a reformed Specialty Doctor contract and a new Specialist contract.
The new contracts apply to new staff to the SAS grades from 1 April 2021 and to SAS doctors being employed on new contracts from that date forwards. Current SAS doctors employed on national terms and conditions of service will be given the option to transfer to the equivalent revised terms and conditions or remain on current terms and conditions.
Current
Terms and Conditions of Service - Specialist Doctors (Wales) - 2024
Terms and Conditions of Service - Speciality Doctors (Wales) - 2024
Previous
Terms and Conditions of Service - Specialist Doctors (Wales) 2021
Terms and Conditions of Service - Specialty Doctors (Wales) 2021
Pay Progression for SAS Doctors on the 2021 Contracts - Guidance
The new contracts stipulate that SAS doctors will no longer automatically receive pay affecting increments unless the review process has been completed and a ‘Yes’ has been recorded for Pay Progression in ESR.
The 2021 contracts state that this function was to go live on the 1st of April 2023.
To facilitate the development of guidance to assist clinical managers, the go live date was deferred to the 1st of November 2023.
Key documents
- Specialty Doctors (Wales) 2021 – How to record a Specialist Doctor Pay Progression Review (How to guide for ESR)
- Specialty Doctors (Wales) 2021 – FAQ
- Specialist / Specialty Doctors (Wales) 2021 Pay Progression Form – this form is to support conversations but also allow doctors who currently have ESR proxy to administration colleagues to continue to do so allowing administration colleagues to input information into ESR if that is what is currently practice within the Health Board.
Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS) Doctors (Wales) 2008 Contract
Terms and Conditions of Service Documents
Terms and Conditions of Service (2008)
Agreement was reached in January 2021 to a reformed Speciality Doctor contract and new Specialist Contract for all new appointments to SAS Grades in Wales.
Existing Doctors employed on the national TCS Specialty Doctor 2008 contract, those employed under the national closed TCS for Associate Specialists 2008, and those employed on other closed national SAS grades, have the option to transfer to the equivalent revised TCS or remain on current TCS.
Resources
Terms and Conditions of Service - Associate Specialists (Wales) 2008
Terms and Conditions of Service - Specialty Doctors (Wales) 2008
Specialty Doctor Contract Transfer 2008 to 2021
In October 2024, Medical and Dental Business Group approved a revised centralised process for doctors to request to transfer from the 2008 contract to the 2021 contract.
Requests are being managed centrally through NHS Wales Employers
2008 to 2021 Speciality Doctor Contracts Transfer Process
MST Expression of Interest Form
Specialty to Specialist Doctor Career Progression (Regrading)
In May 2025, the Policy for the Management of Specialty to Specialist Doctor Career Progression (Regrading) was approved in social partnership through Medical and Dental Business Group.
Applications for regrading are being managed centrally through NHS Wales Employers using the MST SAS Career Progression (Regrading) Form.
Policy for the Management of Specialty to Specialist Doctor Career Progression (Regrading)
MST SAS Career Progression (Regrading) Form
SAS Career Progression (Regrading) Form WORD Document
Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS) Doctors (Wales) - Charter
SAS Charter for Wales
As senior clinicians, SAS doctors bring experienced and specialist care, possessing individual and often highly specialised skills. As they gain experience, SAS doctors will be encouraged to develop the ability to work independently and also to take on broader roles such as clinical and educational supervisors and as trained appraisers for their colleagues, including consultants.
This Charter was prepared and agreed in 2016 by the former SAS Reference Group and recently updated in 2023 with agreement with the Medical and Dental Business Group (MDBG) which includes representatives from NHS Wales employers, Welsh Government, BMA Cymru Wales and Health Education Improvement Wales (HEIW). It demonstrates a commitment to supporting and developing the role of the SAS doctor as a highly valued and vital part of the medical work force in Wales. It sets out both the rights and responsibilities of SAS doctors and their employers with a commitment to support and enable SAS doctors and dentists to realise their full clinical potential and to deliver the best patient care.
Policy statement on recording activities of SAS doctors in patient administration systems
In 2024, Medical and Dental Business Group (Wales) agreed a Policy Statement confirming the commitment of employing organisations to ensure accurate recording of patient related activity undertaken by SAS Doctors is included in current and/or future Patient Administration Systems.