9th May 2016

SCReaM if you want to go faster...

This week I got to play the part ... of a Surgeon. I took part in some simulated operating theatre emergencies as part of the SCReaM Course.

Initially a project between @ASPHFT & @RoyalSurrey, Surrey Crisis Resource Management is an initiative to manage theatre emergencies in a safe, effective team-driven way. Led by anaesthetist Dr Rob Menzies, we got out head mikes on and heard about a ready-reference guide that from July will be available in every theatre.

These guides allow team members to have protocols for all the possible differential diagnoses of for example bradycardia, hypovolaemia, local anaesthetic toxcity and more, without having to keep all the details in your head (and maybe remember them wrong)

We had an awesome sim dummy to work with, who had pulses, lips that went blue, blinking eyes and everything

... all linked up to an iPad anaesthetic machine to give us all heart attacks as it went into VF.

This is a really good initiative: having been in theatre when challenges have occurred before knife got anywhere near skin, this is a staggeringly good way of ensuring there's no panic & no forgotten steps. If you have an opportunity to take part, do. 

Sam Simmonds Meeting

This Friday saw the annual Sam Simmonds Meeting, this year hosted by Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals @BSUH_NHS with Mr Ben Rogers at the helm @BenedictARogers. Each of the Hospital groups that make up the rotation take turns to host what has become a pretty big meeting of around 250 surgeons. We've long outgrown post-grad lecture theatres and this year we met at the Ashdown Park Hotel @AshdownPark in the sunshine 

This event is the only occasion where T&O surgeons, both trainees and consultants, from the South West Thames Orthopaedic rotation can get together. The morning session is made up of Registrar presentations and our own Mr Sohail Yousaf presented his work on civilian traumatic amputations

The afternoon session is made up of invited speakers and this year we heard from the CEO of the British Orthopaedic Association @BritOrthopaedic on the progress of "Getting It Right First Time" (GIRFT). All Trusts are about to receive their second visit to see if they are performing as expected or if they are outliers from the mean. This is hugely important work in standardising care across England & Wales.

We also hold the Consultants' Meeting where we hear about the state of training which continues to be tinged with gloom. There is concern that there will be unfilled posts at CST & HST in August and all Trusts are hoping to attract a smaller & smaller pool of applicants for Trust grade positions.

Good to see women Consultants well represented. Feels like we might be knocking on the door of 10% of the Consultant body of E&W...

Hip Surgeons Ms Kate Gill @RoyalSurrey with Ms Sam Hook @westernsussex

Paediatric Orthopod & BOA Council member Ms Karen Daly @StGeorgesUni, Ms Natasha Morrisey HST @ASPHFT & Hand Surgeon Ms Becky Owens @FrimleyHealth

Hand Surgeon Ms Shamim Umarji @Shami_Umarji @StGeorgesUni coping well being photobombed by Mr Anthony Sakellariou @FrimleyHealth

Forthcoming Attractions

In this section I have previously highlighted courses coming up that may be useful for CPD. This week I want to draw your attention to e-learning.

The L-word ("leadership") has traditionally made my heart sink and my eyes roll but it is a mandatory part of training so I must suppress my cynicism. It is also usually the part of trainees' portfolios that's most likely to have tumbleweed rolling through it so any opportunity to fill that gap should be embraced.

Have a look at this e-learning programme: http://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/leadership-for-clinicians/

It may help you get started and even interested in the subject.