20th June 2016

Busy week again, bit more tiring for some than for others perhaps ...

As we approach the end of the academic year, changes are taking place as part of our efforts to improve the learning environment @ASPHFT. 

We've known for some time that we have outgrown the resources available for the Trauma Meeting. After an 18/12 search for a new home we are still no further forward - our goal was to move nearer to Swan and have participation from nursing staff & physiotherapists but a venue cannot be found. We have temporarily set up shop in the Fracture Clinic and whilst this means we can't have a Trauma board & the projector needs to be set up & taken down every day, it does mean there is space, air conditioning and an improved environment 

Let's see if it works.

Core Trainees ARCP

This week I sat on the panel for the ARCPs (Annual Review of Competence Progression), held at St Peter's. We welcomed staff from @HEE_KSS as well as Consultant Panel members from other Trusts to review the 39 CSTs in the region. 

Face-to-face meetings are not required for everyone but all trainees do have their ISCPs reviewed closely by the panel. It was a bit disappointing to see just how many have incomplete evidence (Outcome 5): the goalposts are very clearly identified at the start of the year. It has prompted me to ensure that as part of the revamped Trust & Departmental Inductions there will be a (mandatory) CST session with me on Thursday 4th August making sure you can all drive ISCP and I can set up your Global Objectives.

ARCPs were followed by the Core STC Meeting. The timetable for the 2017 Interview process were released

The application window is from 9th November till 1st December 2016.

Another thing discussed was making sure our trainees knew what was desirable in terms of speciality experience to gain points towards HST: 

I think we've accommodated the needs of our new intake, as far as we know. It is easy to clock up the speciality months, esp if you're locumming and before you know it you're penalising yourself.

Forthcoming Attractions

MRCS B results came out on Friday. Congratulations those who were successful. If you weren't, don't lose heart. Talk to your AESs & Surgical Tutors, take stock and try again. And have a look at courses like this @RoySocMed which may help: https://www.rsm.ac.uk/events/events-listing/2015-2016/groups/rsm-professionals/rpg25-mrcs-part-b-revision-course.aspx

16th November 2015

MRCS Success

Huge congratulations to four @HEKSSSpeciality Core Trainees who sat the MRCS B: Sophie @sophiehfwrigley and Asad... 

... Kamran and Dan ...

Stunning results all round. The best part of getting that test out of the way is now you can enjoy the job, the experience of being a surgeon. Well done.

More success...

Last post, I told you we had no less than FIVE podium presentations at @britishtrauma British Trauma Society 2015 Meeting. 

The paper by Zu Nawaz, Sophie Wrigley and Arshad Khaleel "Follow up of 810 consecutive Ti-HA coated uncemented stem hemiarthroplasties" won First Prize as Best Clinical Presentation! Fantastic achievement, so pleased for you all

LNC Meeting

This week saw one of the quarterly meetings of the Local Negotiating Committee (LNC). LNCs are made up of elected local representatives who negotiate – and have the authority to make collective agreements – with local management on behalf of medical and dental staff of all grades. 

This group is not just made up of senior medical staff and BMA rep Cathy Taylor, but also your junior doctor representatives: Dominique, Beatrix @beatrixlv and Holly @unclehester

It was good to hear at the meeting that the Chief Operating Officer Bob Peet @bobpeet1 has started gathering senior managers and consultants to plan safe staffing dependent on how @theBMA vote turns out. 

Another important issue discussed was Diary Carding, just entering its second week. I cannot stress how important it is that these cards are filled in accurately. 

The Trust cannot change staffing levels or improve workloads without data, so this is key. If you overstay your shift time, you must, must ring your consultant. The reason for this is that every morning, the consultant is contacted to verify the diary card entries. So if you ring and they tell you <ahem> where to go you, write down exactly that in the notes. A text message will do. 

When I was a 4th year Reg @ASPH the first time round (ST6 in new money) accurate diary carding pushed us up to Band 3, and we were back paid really quickly. Returns in previous years have been so poor that no inferences could be drawn about work patterns or intensity: please don't let this opportunity slide.

Surgeon of the Week

So, Urology trainees have been asking "where are our bosses for Surgeon of the Week?" They are ELUSIVE and have been known to sprint down the corridor away from my camera (yes, YOU Mr Agrawal). Here we have a Urologist pinned down by Humphrey Scott @humphrey_scott, the Godfather Mr Robin Cole:

 

Forthcoming Attractions

Core Surgical Training applications are now OPEN (fanfares). Read the instructions, follow the checklist ...

... and please come and find me with your portfolio so we can buff & polish it. Had a very satisfying session with Christian @marshaisic creating a portfolio to be proud of. I will do a whole post on Portfolio Preparation soon.

Another plug for 'Are You Cut Out For It?', the competition for CT2s to test dexterity & skills. Winners go to the National Finals at the College @RCSNews in February for a chance to win the first prize, £1,000. Have you got what it takes? The X Factor?