Results
In total, 145 surveys were returned and of these responses, 52% of respondents reported that they were redeployed. The respondents were categorized into four groups and the basic characteristics of each group are shown in Table 1. The trainee ophthalmologists were categorized to those with more recent experience of medical training, (ST1 & ST2 level) and those in ST3 and above. The group “Other” consisted of non-consultant career grade doctors such as staff grades, associate specialists, specialty doctors, and clinical fellows. The final group consisted of ophthalmology consultants irrespective of whether they were substantive or part time.
Table 1.  Location of redeployment across all grades of ophthalmologists.
All grades  Consultant  ST1-2 trainee  ST3+ trainee  Other (staff grade, fellow)
Total responses (%)  145 (100%)  24 (17%)  28 (19%)  73 (50%)  20 (14%)
Deployed respondents
n (% of total deployed)  76 (100%)  7 (9%)  21 (28%)  39 (51%)  9 (12%)
Fully Completed Surveys n (%)  58 (76%)  7 (100%)  12 (57%)  31 (79%)  8 (89%)
Non-deployed respondents
n (% of total non-deployed)  69 (100%)  17 (25%)  7 (10%)  34 (49%)  11 (16%)
Fully completed surveys n (%)  62 (90%)  16 (94%)  6 (86%)  31 (91%)  9 (81%) While on redeployment, 74% of doctors reported that they did not perform any ophthalmic work.The remainder reported they participated in the ophthalmology on-calls (14%) or eye casualty shifts (10%). Half of the redeployed ophthalmologists (56.4%) performed 12-h shifts with or without night shifts or weekend shifts while the rest performed a resident 8-h shift during normal working hours.