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)
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)
Monday, October 24, 2005
More updates to reference pages
I've updated the links in the shiftwork and night duty page, to include more advice on coping with night shifts. I've also updated the flexible training page to include national guidelines on the new contract, links to all the Royal College pages which advise on flexible training, and some news links.
If they don't look any different, just refresh the page. Any more info gratefully received.... as always.
If they don't look any different, just refresh the page. Any more info gratefully received.... as always.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
New diary card templates
More diary card templates in the Downloadable Documents section. They're standard exception reports based on the GOSH template, but with a few additional features:
* Counter Fraud paragraph included
* Study leave specified for the new DRS system
* Diaries specific to each type of shift.
* Counter Fraud paragraph included
* Study leave specified for the new DRS system
* Diaries specific to each type of shift.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
"We're paid too much", says junior doctor
A house officer has incurred the wrath of most of the medical establishment by writing a fascinating New Statesman article arguing that UK doctors are paid too much. The unrepentant junior told the Telegraph "I may need a new job, possibly as a tea boy. But it is something I believe in and I believe it is right. I'm not suggesting that we are paid a pittance, but it should be in line with the amount of work we do." (See also the many critical responses in the Telegraph.)
The BMA commented that this view was "not widely held" among doctors.
New poll: Are doctors overpaid? (Remember, this poll is strictly anonymous. Even the editor can't see who has voted.)
Last poll: Should weeks of nights be phased out? Fairly even spread of views on this, though nobody thought shifts should be abandoned for on call. The majority favoured split weeks of three and four nights.
News
In related news, doctors may only get a 2.5% payrise (Hospital Doctor). The editor argues that the salary is about respecting doctors.
Long hours set to spark mass consultant exodus
Juniors threaten strike over unemployment crisis in UK (Hospital Doctor)
Not online, but in the paper edition of HD, is a report on successful appeals over hours in the West Midlands. There is also a report that Trusts refusing to include virology SpRs in on call rotas (and pay them banding) are putting patients at risk and jeopardising training.
MMC to force juniors into Trust posts? (Hospital Doctor)
A US court recently ruled that an Illinois hospital was not responsible for the injuries caused when a sleep-deprived doctor fell asleep at the wheel, after working 34 hours of a 36-hour shift. But does the hospital have a duty of care? The Sleep Foundation has a vote up on their webpage: Should the Court Hold Employers Responsible for Their Employees' Fall-Asleep Crash? (NSF)
NHS trust plans to cut consultant posts to make savings (BMJ)
University College London NHS Trust goes wireless - allowing the possibility of remote access to patient records and electronic correspondence anywhere in the hospital. (E-Health Insider)
Tips for doctors (BMJ Career Focus)
Getting started at a new hospital
Communicating with colleagues
Ringing about a patient - what to do when you ring the on call doctor
Filling in a claim form (for travel expenses etc)
Tips on safe prescribing
A basic guide to patient safety: Risk Analysis (BMJ Career Focus)
A course on in-flight medical emergencies (Hospital Doctor)
Support for doctors
Doctors, drink and drugs - what support is available? (BMJ Career Focus)
Jobscore - peer reviews of hospital jobs (BMJ Career Focus)
Opinion
Are US-style physicians' assistants needed? (Hospital Doctor)
Trusts should cut workload of senior physicians to retain them (BMJ)
Ensuring medical students are "fit for purpose": It is time for the UK to consider a national licensing process (BMJ)
Should training for out of hours work be removed from GP registrar core training requirements? (BMJ Career Focus)
Should doctors always admit mistakes? (BMJ Career Focus)
Do GPs deserve their recent pay rise? (BMJ)
The benefits of GP practice experience in FY1 and FY2 (BMJ Career Focus)
Interview with new president of the Medical Women's Federation (BMJ Career Focus)
Can physicians regulate themselves? (CMAJ editorial) followed by two letters
New research and reports
PDAs beat pagers for doctor response times, says study (E-Health Insider)
Effectiveness of Aroma on Work Efficiency: Lavender Aroma during Recesses Prevents Deterioration of Work Performance. (Chem Senses 2005 Sep 14)
Sleep and student performance at school. (J Sch Health 2005;75(7):248-54.)
Extracts only (BMJ - worth looking up if you have the paper copy or an online subscription):
Foundation programme for newly qualified doctors Should improve specialist training in the UK but may lack capacity. Followed by three letters in response.
Students should spend part of training in rural hospitals
Women doctors and their careers - what now?
The BMA commented that this view was "not widely held" among doctors.
New poll: Are doctors overpaid? (Remember, this poll is strictly anonymous. Even the editor can't see who has voted.)
Last poll: Should weeks of nights be phased out? Fairly even spread of views on this, though nobody thought shifts should be abandoned for on call. The majority favoured split weeks of three and four nights.
News
In related news, doctors may only get a 2.5% payrise (Hospital Doctor). The editor argues that the salary is about respecting doctors.
Long hours set to spark mass consultant exodus
Juniors threaten strike over unemployment crisis in UK (Hospital Doctor)
Not online, but in the paper edition of HD, is a report on successful appeals over hours in the West Midlands. There is also a report that Trusts refusing to include virology SpRs in on call rotas (and pay them banding) are putting patients at risk and jeopardising training.
MMC to force juniors into Trust posts? (Hospital Doctor)
A US court recently ruled that an Illinois hospital was not responsible for the injuries caused when a sleep-deprived doctor fell asleep at the wheel, after working 34 hours of a 36-hour shift. But does the hospital have a duty of care? The Sleep Foundation has a vote up on their webpage: Should the Court Hold Employers Responsible for Their Employees' Fall-Asleep Crash? (NSF)
NHS trust plans to cut consultant posts to make savings (BMJ)
University College London NHS Trust goes wireless - allowing the possibility of remote access to patient records and electronic correspondence anywhere in the hospital. (E-Health Insider)
Tips for doctors (BMJ Career Focus)
Getting started at a new hospital
Communicating with colleagues
Ringing about a patient - what to do when you ring the on call doctor
Filling in a claim form (for travel expenses etc)
Tips on safe prescribing
A basic guide to patient safety: Risk Analysis (BMJ Career Focus)
A course on in-flight medical emergencies (Hospital Doctor)
Support for doctors
Doctors, drink and drugs - what support is available? (BMJ Career Focus)
Jobscore - peer reviews of hospital jobs (BMJ Career Focus)
Opinion
Are US-style physicians' assistants needed? (Hospital Doctor)
Trusts should cut workload of senior physicians to retain them (BMJ)
Ensuring medical students are "fit for purpose": It is time for the UK to consider a national licensing process (BMJ)
Should training for out of hours work be removed from GP registrar core training requirements? (BMJ Career Focus)
Should doctors always admit mistakes? (BMJ Career Focus)
Do GPs deserve their recent pay rise? (BMJ)
The benefits of GP practice experience in FY1 and FY2 (BMJ Career Focus)
Interview with new president of the Medical Women's Federation (BMJ Career Focus)
Can physicians regulate themselves? (CMAJ editorial) followed by two letters
New research and reports
PDAs beat pagers for doctor response times, says study (E-Health Insider)
Effectiveness of Aroma on Work Efficiency: Lavender Aroma during Recesses Prevents Deterioration of Work Performance. (Chem Senses 2005 Sep 14)
Sleep and student performance at school. (J Sch Health 2005;75(7):248-54.)
Extracts only (BMJ - worth looking up if you have the paper copy or an online subscription):
Foundation programme for newly qualified doctors Should improve specialist training in the UK but may lack capacity. Followed by three letters in response.
Students should spend part of training in rural hospitals
Women doctors and their careers - what now?
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 on admin@idwl.info.
