Rocky
I didn't charge and I went to bed that morning after a busy night and came
back at 4 o'clock the same afternoon for a few hours. I had a few high
spots the best was when I challenged a drunk who had smashed his fist
through a glass window and was moaning about waiting times. My reparti with
him had the waiting room in stitches of laughter.
I wanted to emphasise to the list the problems facing A & E. As I say it is
a problem that is going to intensify as the reduction in Doctors hours and
the teaching committments begin to bite.
Following the posting I have discussed the situation with several other
people and I have no doubt that A & E Consultants are working under extreme
duress. Other specialities are being paid extra for waiting list
initiatives and yet A & E consultants are in departments often late at night
and at weekends for little in the way of appreciation or even control of
their own destiny. This is while the politicians concentrate on waiting
lists and treat the medical emergencies as 2nd class citizens.
At 5 o'clock when the health service managers have gone home the
resonsibility for staffing becomes that of the A & E Consultant as I keep on
telling our human resources dept. We can't down tools and go home if there
is no one there or the SHO doesn't turn up for duty.
I must admit that I did suggest doing what the Consultant obviously did at
King George's Hospital in Ilford. I think in retrospect he may have been
right as I doubt if the situation ever will be allowed to happen again at
that hospital.
Danny McGeehan
|