Want to improve the welfare of your fellow trainees?

Looking to gain leadership skills?

If YES, then you are a potential LAT!

The main focus of CAT is to promote the welfare of anaesthesia trainees in Ireland, by representing trainee interests at a College level. To aid us in this effort, CAT established the Lead Anaesthetic Trainee (LAT) initiative in January 2015. It is modelled upon the Trainee Network Leads scheme utilized by the AAGBI’s GAT. We aim to have a LAT in all 24 training hospitals, at all times.

A LAT provides leadership for trainees at a local level, acting as a conduit for communication between the consultant and trainee bodies. They also communicate any trainee issues to CAT, and CAT, in turn, communicates with the College in an effort to resolve these issues. There is a permanent LAT coordinator position on CAT to facilitate this. CAT updates LATs regularly on any developments within the College that will have an impact upon trainees, as well as CAT activities.

The LAT position provides an opportunity for trainees to contribute to the welfare of their fellow trainees and develop managerial skills in the process. LATs are appointed twice per year, in January and July, upon the commencement of trainee rotations. LATs remain in the position for a period of six months.

An annual LAT meeting is held at the CAI Annual Congress. To facilitate LAT attendance at the 2015 meeting, CAT secured funding for complementary attendance to one day of the Congress for all LATs. CAT are aiming to continue this in coming years.

If you wish to become the LAT for your department in your next job, contact your tutor and make your interest known in the month before the changeover.

Any queries can be directed to lat@coa.ie.

LAT’s July 2017 – January 2018