Hospital Doctor articles from September 2004

Hospital Doctor archives from September 2004

Talking about; a revolution.(medical changes)
September 2, 2004... As medical training faces another massive shake-up, Prof Alan Crockard, national director for Modernising Medical Careers, believes that, despite the critics, doctors are beginning to back the reforms. He gave his first interview since being...

Two-tier senior grade a possibility in O&G.(Obstetrics and Gynaecology)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2004... training By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk A two-tier consultant grade may result from proposals by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) to train fewer doctors in major pelvic surgery. O&G consultants would be...

Costs put private work at risk.(Federation of Independent Practitioner Organisations)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2004... private practice Rising expenses could drive consultants out of private practice. A Mori poll for the Federation of Independent Practitioner Organisations (FIPO) warns increases in private income are not keeping pace with rises in...

EU doctors spark safety fears.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2004... recruitment Patient safety could be compromised due to a massive rise in numbers of doctors entering the UK from the ten European accession countries. Latest GMC figures show the number of doctors registering increased to 185 in July,...

Switch doctors on to IT plans.(Brief Article)
September 2, 2004... Every doctor knows that a large IT project is being implemented in the NHS. Most are positive about upgrading the systems, but have heard that the National Programme for IT in the NHS has encountered some teething problems. Some know that...

Doctors in dark over roll out of IT system.(National Programme of Information Technology)(Brief Article)
September 2, 2004... By Emma Vere-Jones emma.vere.jones@rbi.co.uk The implementation of the National Programme of IT (NPfIT) has been labelled a 'disgrace' after a survey revealed that clinical support is rapidly decreasing. The Medix survey shows that the vast...

Trusts to feel pinch of surgeon shortfall.(Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland)
September 2, 2004... Workforce By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk A shortfall in numbers of consultant general surgeons will leave trusts struggling to provide adequate cover, a survey reveals. Although the survey, carried out by the Association of...

Court experts need backing.(Sudden Infant Death)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 9, 2004... editorial comment Public confidence in the medical experts involved in investigations into sudden infant death (SID) is low. Adverse publicity surrounding high-profile criminal cases where mothers have been prosecuted for causing their...

More resource needed to win numbers game.
September 9, 2004... As the Government reiterates its commitment to the health service with The NHS Improvement Plan, Hospital Doctor examines the key areas. In part one of a series appearing in this issue, Janis Smy asks doctors whether the Government's ambitious...

letters.(Letter to the Editor)
September 9, 2004... Personal view of bullying Sir, It is wrong to state that 'a report illustrating widespread bullying of trainee psychiatrists has been dismissed by their royal college' (3 June, page 3). This story was published in response to research...

Podiatrists urged not to work for surgeons.(The College of Podiatrists)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2004... Working practices By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk Podiatric surgeons who work under orthopaedic direction risk being disciplined and are putting the profession at risk, their training body has said. The College of Podiatrists...

No frills day surgery launches.(Low cost surgical services)(Brief Article)
September 9, 2004... A private day surgery, one of a new breed, has opened in Plymouth offering an 'Easyjet' priced, no frills service. The clinic, known as Tamar Surgery, is funded and managed by 18 local surgeons who work in many different specialties and can...

Pathology crisis hits cot death proposals.(Editorial)
September 9, 2004... By Emma Vere-Jones emma.vere.jones@rbi.co.uk High profile recommendations on sudden infant death released this week could be undermined by a recruitment crisis in pathology. The recommendations, from a working group convened by the Royal...

Safety into practice.
September 16, 2004... It's costing [pounds sterling]16m per year, yet so far doctors are still unable to report adverse incidents to it. Lord Philip Hunt, chairman of the National Patient Safety Agency, talks to Olufunmi Majekodunmi about his plans to finally get...

Trusts 'exploiting new consultants'.(Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association comments on hospital contracts for medical consultants)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2004... Contract By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk Trusts are exploiting new consultants by demanding they work longer hours than they are being paid for, claims the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA). All new...

Pension cut is no real saving.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 16, 2004... editorial comment What is wrong with the NHS pension scheme? 'Nothing' appears to be the answer. The scheme justly rewards doctors for a challenging career in the NHS. So, why has it been subject to a year-long review? The official line is...

Doctors reject pensions plan.(British Medical Association survey)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2004... pensions Doctors have rejected proposed changes to the NHS pension scheme. Almost half the 4,721 doctors polled in a BMA survey opposed changing to a career average earnings scheme from the current final salary method. Career average...

Europe set to reverse on-call hours rulings.(European Working Time Directive)(work hours for junior physicians)
September 16, 2004... By Emma Vere-Jones emma.vere.jones@rbi.co.uk The European Commission is taking steps to ensure that not all juniors' hours on call count as working time. Proposals leaked this week reveal significant changes to the European Working Time...

Pay delay leads to strike talk.(associate specialist doctors seek new contract, United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2004... contract Furious staff and associate specialist (SAS) doctors are threatening industrial action over delays to their new contract. Implementation of the contract has been delayed until spring 2006 because funding for it has not been...

letters.(Letter to the Editor)
September 16, 2004... Offer doctors English course Sir, Although I understand that doctors with a poor command of English language may be of great concern (EU doctors spark safety fears, 2 September, front page), most European Union doctors of this generation...

Where private finance gets a warm welcome.(Private Finance Initiative)
September 23, 2004... The introduction of the Private Finance Initiative to the NHS has sparked controversy but it does have some benefits. Judy Sands speaks to those who have welcomed the funding The Government has given the go-ahead to more than [pounds...

Surgeon accuses RCS of 'trashing' training.(Royal College of Surgeons )
September 23, 2004... Training By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk A senior surgeon is calling on his colleagues to stop paying their college subscriptions. Mr Andrew McIrvine, chairman of the higher surgical training committee for south-east Thames,...

Pensions review set to 'destroy' services.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2004... psychiatry By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk Psychiatric services will be decimated if mental health officer (MHOs) posts are scrapped, psychiatrists are warning. MHO status gives doctors double pensions after 20 years' service...

Fight to lead SAS negotiators.(staff and associate specialist)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2004... bma A power struggle is developing at the top of the BMA's negotiating sub-committee for staff and associate specialist (SAS) doctors, as dissatisfaction grows over its performance. Former chairman Mr Awani Chaudhary has decided to stand...

Doctors to reveal brushes with law.
September 23, 2004... By Emma Vere-Jones emma.vere.jones@rbi.co.uk The GMC agreed controversial procedures last week that will force all doctors to disclose any brushes with the law. Doctors are concerned at this move which will place a duty on them to immediately...

Duty to inform needs clarity.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
September 23, 2004... editorial comment The GMC is striving to respond to the Shipman Inquiry ahead of its findings later this year. This week, it approved a new duty on doctors to inform the GMC when they are the subject of criminal proceedings or have...

Title fight.
September 30, 2004... You can be a tree surgeon or even a consultant podiatric surgeon. But if you are not a medically qualified doctor, should you be able to use titles that could mislead patients? Dr Mark Sterrick investigates So, when is a Dr not a doctor?...

letters.
September 30, 2004... Bad press hits court experts Sir, I have provided opinions in child care proceedings on many occasions and feel I am in a position to comment (Court experts need backing, 9 September, page 2). Experts involved in child protection are...

SAS leader hits out over slow pay talks.(Staff and associate specialist)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2004... SAS doctors By Melanie Newman melanie.newman@rbi.co.uk Staff and associate specialist (SAS) doctors will be dead before they get their new contracts if progress continues at the present rate, says their new lead negotiator. Mr Awani...

Self-regulation of profession; under debate.(Brief Article)
September 30, 2004... regulation MPs may urge the Govern-ment to scrap self-regulation of the medical profession. Members of the Commons' Health Committee are holding informal talks about whether to press for a full inquiry. This has been prompted by...

Don't fit it all into one week.(European Working Time Directive)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2004... editorial comment The European Working Time Directive (EWTD) was always going to throw up an essential dilemma. While no one wants juniors to work such long hours that their judgement is impaired, workforce shortages mean that lengthy...

Doctors more cautious on allowing abortions.
September 30, 2004... Terminations By Mike Broad hospital.doctor@rbi.co.uk West Mercia Police's investigation into the late termination of a baby with a cleft lip and palate is changing doctors' approach to certificating abortions. Research by Hospital Doctor...

Inactive time on call will no longer count.
September 30, 2004... By Emma Vere-Jones emma.vere.jones@rbi.co.uk Inactive time spent on call could cease to be regarded as junior doctors' working time within a year. Proposed amendments to the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), released last week, introduce...