28th September 2015

This week I've been on a course on site, learning about being a Case Investigator. This is a role to investigate facts when looking into concerns regarding healthcare professionals and maintaining high professional standards (MHPS).

Last year I was involved in a pilot scheme commissioned by @HE_KSS looking into Bullying and Undermining, and this week's course was a natural extension, looking into how  concerns such as this are researched and addressed. 

Here are DME Dr Peter Martin (my educational boss!) and Divisional Director of TASCC & DTTO (ie amongst other things, Surgery, so my clinical boss!) ENT surgeon Mr John Hadley on the course with me:

It was a highly though-provoking few days. In the Trust at any one time 6-7 healthcare professionals are going through this process and it's so important to treat everyone involved with care, compassion and professionalism. 

This Week's Headlines

When I started this blog, my primary aims were to engage and inform my junior colleagues training in surgical posts. As Surgical Tutor, I'm finding it nigh on impossible to adopt the position of RCS England and make no comment on the #juniorcontract that could be imposed in August 2016 by @NHSEngland.

My bad.

So apologies to @asphft but I cannot avoid reference to headlines such as these:

Full article: 

http://t.co/sv4bebBsK1

Full article: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/numbers-of-nhs-doctors-registering-to-work-overseas-could-reach-unprecedented-record-10511755.html

We are going through turbulent times. All I would say to you is - be informed. Read first hand. Always better to make a decision based on the whole paper, not just the abstract.

So here are some references. The DDRB itself:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/445742/50576_DDRB_report_2015_WEB_book.pdf

The call to arms from @theBMA: http://m.bma.org.uk/working-for-change/junior-and-consultant-contract/junior-doctor-contract-negotiations-home

... and blogs from @coffeeheadaches: 

https://coffeeheadachesblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/23/why-are-nhs-doctors-angry-about-their-new-contracts/

... and from @PsychiatrySHO:

http://wp.me/p3Gft2-yNQ

Here are the Royal College positions:

@RCSNews http://ow.ly/2bvkUl

@RCSEd http://www.rcsed.ac.uk/the-college/news/2015/september-2015/response-to-the-proposed-new-junior-doctor-contract-in-england.aspx

@RCGP

http://www.rcgp.org.uk/news/2015/september/rcgp-demands-cast-iron-guarantee-on-junior-doctors-contract.aspx

@RCoANews https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/news-and-bulletin/rcoa-news-and-statements/joint-statement-the-rcoa-and-ficm-the-proposed-trainee#.VgAowpq20mg.twitter

@RCPlondon 

http://dmtrk.com/1V12-3N5RE-CBDMKJN66C/cr.aspx

@RCObsGyn http://ow.ly/Szaqt
@RCPsych http://bit.ly/1FZU8ts

@bota_uk http://goo.gl/CA6NGX

Surgeon of the Week

This week's superstar may be an unfamiliar face but you can bet newbie Consultant Spinal Surgeon Oscar Garcias-Casas is already making a big noise. A Consultant in Spain for 12 years already, Oscar started with us nearly a year ago to work with Chris Schofield ahead of Chris's retirement from the NHS. He is seen here with Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist Mary Burns:

Oscar has expanded the Spinal Service @ASPHFT allowing more spinal patients than ever to be looked after closer to home. He will be joined in three months by another new colleague (more about that another time). His patient training methods have already won praise from our junior teams.

Forthcoming Attractions

BMJ Careers Fair

Business Design Centre October 23-24th

http://careersfair.bmj.com/registration/careers-fair