ABSTRACT
Introduction Working as a doctor or dentist in the National Health Service (NHS) is demand ing, and once an individual is appointed to a consultant or practitioner post they may stay in the same job for 20 or more years. In these circumstances a lack of stimulation may lead to demoralisation, and a sabbatical allows a period of recreation or the opportunity to develop new professional skills. Younger doctors and dentists may wish to take time out between jobs to pursue other interests, travel or work abroad. General practice registrars who constructed a three-month sabbatical to undertake an educational activity of their own choice viewed the experience positively, with both the practice doctors and patients noticing a positive change in the registrars when they returned to work.1
