Hospital Doctor articles from July 2004

Hospital Doctor archives from July 2004

Fat chance of agreement.
July 1, 2004... Hospital Doctor proposes that doctors do not have to practice what they preach. Dr James Begg says fat docs should be proud, whereas Dr Sarah Burnett argues the profession has an obligation to stay in shape for With virtually every...

No smoke law without fire.(Editorial)
July 1, 2004... editorial comment It is not very often that Hospital Doctor agrees with Health Secretary John Reid. And following the latest announcements on The NHS Plan, with the continued rise of outsourcing to the private sector, it is not likely to...

The state of the nation.(public health)
July 1, 2004... In the first part of our special on public health, Francesca Robinson gives an overview of the scale of the problem Growing concern about soaring levels of smoking, obesity and alcohol abuse is driving public health up the political agenda....

Cleanliness rates as priority for patients.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... quality By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk Patients with a choice of hospitals are more influenced by cleanliness than waiting times, preliminary results from a pilot project reveal. Eight out of ten patients claim the most...

Consultants urged to fight for patients' rights.(British Medical Association)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... arm conference The BMA's seniors' leader urged consultants to 'recapture the NHS' and fight for patients' rights locally. Dr Paul Miller, chairman of the BMA's Central Consultants and Specialists Committee, told conference delegates that...

BMA attacks smoking inaction.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Government inaction on bringing forward legislation to ban smoking in enclosed public places was condemned last week by the BMA. Speaking at its annual conference in Llandudno, chairman Mr James Johnson said: 'I cannot bite my tongue on two...

Row over NHS Plan.(National Health Service)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Doctors' leaders offered a co-operative approach to Govern-ment reform at the BMA's annual representative meeting this week. BMA council chairman Mr James Johnson said the BMA wished the Government's updated NHS Plan well. 'It can only be...

Outsourcing doubts grow.
July 1, 2004... By Emma Vere-Jones emma.vere.jones@rbi.co.uk Outsourcing operations to the private sector is likely to outstrip the 15 per cent figure predicted by the Government, senior figures have warned, with serious ramifications for the NHS. Last week's...

letters.(Letter to the Editor)
July 1, 2004... Essential help for locums Sir, Locum doctors provide a valuable and essential service for the NHS. Unfortunately, these doctors have been used and abused by the system. It must be in the best interests of patients, locum doctors and the...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
July 8, 2004... HIV secrecy does matter Sir, I was deeply saddened by Mr Jonathan Scott's views (HIV secrecy could cost lives, 10 June, page 9). As someone who has also taken Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) following a high-risk exposure, I sympathise...

Call for cash to help stop discrimination.(Disability Discrimination Act)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2004... Funding By Emma Vere-Jones emma.vere.jones@rbi.co.uk The BMA says it will lobby the Government for more funding to help prevent discrimination in the NHS, after it uncovered disturbing evidence from doctors. The extra cash would allow...

Complaints system is delayed ; yet again.(Complaints handling system )(Brief Article)
July 8, 2004... quality The launch of the Healthcare Commission's complaints handling system is likely to be further delayed. Since the end of May the Commission has had 34 new staff plus serviced office space in Manchester ready to deal with complaints....

Anger at 'advice sheet' voting for committees.(Brief Article)
July 8, 2004... bma BMA members are calling for a re-run of craft committee elections held at the annual representatives meeting after an 'advice sheet' was circulated listing preferred candidates and voting order. A group of doctors from the 'northern...

BMA needs to measure up.(British Medical Association)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2004... editorial comment The BMA's annual representative meeting (ARM) in Llandudno last week showed the enormity of the challenges facing the NHS. Whether it was foundation hospitals or competency-based training being discussed, a common theme...

BMA ignores reform calls.(British Medical Association)
July 8, 2004... By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk The BMA opened itself up to accusations of being remote from the membership after failing to modernise the structure of its representative body last week. The union had wanted to reform its 100...

Overseas doctors can face a bleak future after PLAB.(Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board)
July 8, 2004... Shop assistants and petrol station workers are not jobs we would expect qualified physicians to be doing, but that's the reality facing many overseas-trained doctors. Lisa Bratby reports on life after the Professional and Linguistic Assessments...

Psychiatrists face most checks on performance.(National Clinical Assessment Authority)(Brief Article)
July 8, 2004... QUALITY By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk Psychiatrists are more likely to be referred to the National Clinical Assessment Authority (NCAA) than any other specialty, statistics reveal. The NCAA, which gives advice to trusts with...

Non-medics move toward broader role.
July 15, 2004... With the Working Time Directive due to come into force in a matter of weeks, Janis Smy looks at the role of non-medical staff taking on doctors' duties Clinical departments, faced with the challenge of reducing waiting times, fulfilling...

LETTERS.
July 15, 2004... Real risk is tired doctors Sir, Even though I agree with most of what Dr Gibbs has written, I cannot see his suggestion as the way forward (Hours law is tip of iceberg, 24 June, page 8). He suggests the Government should ignore the EU...

GMC to publicise complaints early.(General Medical Council)
July 15, 2004... COMPLAINTS By Emma Vere-Jones emma.vere.jones@rbi.co.uk The GMC is to subject doctors caught up in its complaints procedure to earlier public and employer scrutiny, in anticipation of critical findings by the Shipman Inquiry. Changes to...

Hidden dangers in role redesign.(Brief Article)
July 15, 2004... It is difficult to find a doctor who has a bad word to say about nurse specialists in say, paediatrics, hypertension or diabetes. They play an important role in supporting new patients, dealing with follow-ups and advising other medical teams....

Fee for service 'may put patients at risk'.(Brief Article)
July 15, 2004... working practices A new Government pilot that financially rewards clinicians for carrying out extra work may put patients at risk industry experts have warned. The Fee for Service scheme, which will be tested in 32 trusts, rewards...

Training reforms hit by funding shortfall.(Brief Article)
July 15, 2004... By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk Inadequate funding is threatening the implementation of Government training reforms in England. The shortfall in funding means that opportunities for innovative posts and generic skills training...

Psychiatrists urged; to delegate caseload.(Royal College of Psychiatrists')
July 15, 2004... working practices Psychiatrists should delegate most of their caseload to other health care professionals, the Royal College of Psychiatrists' annual conference was told last week. Prof Richard Williams said in future consultants should...

How substance abuse tests will affect doctors.(doctors disciplined for drink and drug problems)
July 22, 2004... Should doctors be tested for drink and drugs? Francesca Robinson reports The number of doctors being disciplined for drink and drug problems has reopened the debate on whether doctors should be routinely tested for substance misuse. Prof...

letters.(HIV post exposure prophylaxis)
July 22, 2004... Be prepared for HIV risk Sir, Mr Scott's article highlights important issues on potential blood-borne virus exposure (HIV secrecy could cost lives, 10 June, page 9). Many factors are important in deciding whether or not to use HIV...

SAS recognition further delayed.(Staff and associate specialist )
July 22, 2004... By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk Staff and associate specialist (SAS) doctors are furious over revelations that the new education and training body will not launch in October. The delay will put SAS doctors' plans to progress towards...

Trusts push opt-out.(regulations on working hours for junior doctors)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2004... working time directive Some junior doctors are being pressured by their trusts into opting out of the European Working Time Directive. Mr Simon Eccles, chairman of the BMA's Junior Doctors Committee (JDC), said that the BMA was already...

Pension scheme 'discriminatory'.(Brief Article)
July 22, 2004... pensions Female doctors are calling for a change to the NHS pension scheme, which they claim is discriminatory. Under existing regulations, pension contributions made by female doctors prior to 1988 are ignored for their widowers pension...

Contract gold is tarnished.(contrcats of medical consultants)(Brief Article)
July 22, 2004... editorial comment Has your mouth been stuffed with gold yet, as one of the respondents to our Consultant Contract Survey described it? The figures show that it is a decent-sized mouthful, with most doctors receiving back pay of between...

Satisfaction - but only with pay, not work life.
July 22, 2004... Hospital doctor/medix UK survey on consultant contract By Hospital Doctor reporters hospital.doctor@rbi.co.uk Many doctors still have serious doubts over the benefits of the new consultant contract, except when it comes to remuneration,...

Study leave axed.(study leave of medical students)
July 22, 2004... Training By Emma Vere-Jones emma.vere.jones@rbi.co.uk The Northern Deanery is to axe all funding for study leave and cut other services after almost [pounds sterling]3m of its budget was withdrawn. The deanery is taking the measures after...