Doctors' Working Lives News
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Thursday, October 27, 2005
How do we protect consultants?
Following the 2004 census of consultant physicians, the RCP recently reported that 78% of consultant physicians intend to retire early. This potentially means the NHS could lose 6,189 consultant working years, which equates to losing nearly 2 physicians from every large hospital.
Two key issues were raised by the RCP:
* career management - consultants are keen to stay and do specialty work, which could slow down the loss of consultants to the NHS
* excessive working hours (consultants with and NHS component work an average of 59.3 hours per week - considerably over the legal limit imposed by EWTD).
The issue of career management has also been raised recently in a Hospital Doctor article by Dr Abhay Vaidya and Prof Romesh C Gupta of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. They point out that due to the recent changes in medical training, doctors will spend much longer in the consultant grade, and that structured career plans for consultants will be essential for retention. (Article only available in paper edition.)
Regarding the long working hours, the RCP suggests that "to conform with the Working Time Directive without loss of service to the NHS would require a 28.2 per cent expansion in consultant physician whole-time equivalents". Hospitals are required under the new consultant contract to work towards reducing excessive on call. But in the light of the demands for reduction in junior doctors' hours, is this happening for consultants and how is it being managed?
A poll and topic has been posted in the forum about this - any views or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Website of the month:
Justice For Doctors, a website campaigning against PCT "zero tolerance" suspensions of GPs, and in particular the case of Dr Harish Doshi.
Advice for doctors:
Tips on working as a locum (BMJ Career Focus)
Will a criminal background keep me from being a doctor? (BMJCF)
Dr No Job - advice for unemployed doctors (BMJCF)
Training scheme for new consultants (BMJCF)
Setting up self-directed learning groups for doctors (BMJCF)
Opinion:
Modernising Medical Careers and the lost tribe (BMJCF)
Other news:
Dutch doctor jailed for culpable homicide has his sentence reduced on appeal (BMJ)
Russian doctors sell drugs to misusers to supplement salaries (BMJ)
0 Comments:
Two key issues were raised by the RCP:
* career management - consultants are keen to stay and do specialty work, which could slow down the loss of consultants to the NHS
* excessive working hours (consultants with and NHS component work an average of 59.3 hours per week - considerably over the legal limit imposed by EWTD).
The issue of career management has also been raised recently in a Hospital Doctor article by Dr Abhay Vaidya and Prof Romesh C Gupta of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. They point out that due to the recent changes in medical training, doctors will spend much longer in the consultant grade, and that structured career plans for consultants will be essential for retention. (Article only available in paper edition.)
Regarding the long working hours, the RCP suggests that "to conform with the Working Time Directive without loss of service to the NHS would require a 28.2 per cent expansion in consultant physician whole-time equivalents". Hospitals are required under the new consultant contract to work towards reducing excessive on call. But in the light of the demands for reduction in junior doctors' hours, is this happening for consultants and how is it being managed?
A poll and topic has been posted in the forum about this - any views or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Website of the month:
Justice For Doctors, a website campaigning against PCT "zero tolerance" suspensions of GPs, and in particular the case of Dr Harish Doshi.
Advice for doctors:
Tips on working as a locum (BMJ Career Focus)
Will a criminal background keep me from being a doctor? (BMJCF)
Dr No Job - advice for unemployed doctors (BMJCF)
Training scheme for new consultants (BMJCF)
Setting up self-directed learning groups for doctors (BMJCF)
Opinion:
Modernising Medical Careers and the lost tribe (BMJCF)
Other news:
Dutch doctor jailed for culpable homicide has his sentence reduced on appeal (BMJ)
Russian doctors sell drugs to misusers to supplement salaries (BMJ)
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This site is maintained by Ellie Pattinson. All rights reserved. This website is maintained independently of the NHS and the views expressed are not necessarily a reflection of the views of that organisation. For any queries, contributions or amendments, please email me here.
