8th February 2016

Apologies for the short post this week but, for a change, it seems I've just done the regular job. And spent time with the family, doing those things that all too often get shelved for work activities. So this week no added extras, no bolted-on meetings or educational stuff, I just came in, did the clinics, ran the lists, went home. Rare.

Industrial Action

This photo from Saturday's Junior Doctors March is reproduced without comment:

This week we have the second Junior Doctors' Strike, on Wednesday for 24 hours. This will take the same format as the first one, with emergency work still covered. Learning from the first strike I can see the Trust has worked out a bit better what needs deferring and what can go ahead: many more patients will find they are unaffected by the action as day surgery and clinics go ahead as booked.

Surgical LFG March 3rd

The 4 monthly LFG is coming up soon. Please get in contact with your reps Sophie Wrigley & Holly Ni Raghallaigh  with topics or issues you'd like discussed. You might feel that you are all being frequently interrogated this month. Not only do we have our LETB Visit but also an RCS Flying Squad descended looking into the impact on training of having Physicians' Associates on the wards - and of course we're about to go into another cycle of the GMC NTS Survey.

It's all part of making sure the training experience is right for you: it's just unfortunate timing that it is all happening at once. Hope you don't get into questionnaire fatigue: apathy especially in the GMC Survey will not treat us kindly.

Surgeon of the Week

Time for the legendary T&O magician Mr David Elliott. Known for his ability to instantly materialise in any part of the hospital without seeming to move, Mr Elliott is a Trauma God.

Take a moment to hear him talk, on any topic but especially the principles of fracture management and suddenly the scales fall from your eyes.