I've had to cover the nights on 3 occasions in 11 years, so it's not often.
Usually it's because of sickness and the less SHOs you have on the
establishment the less flexibility there is. Our Trust pays double time plus
time off in lieu (sleeping!). I think we should plug the gap in manpower in
exceptional circumstances, but when and if it becomes regular then that's a
different matter.
Also if you have been up and working all day there may be times that you
can't do it because it's unsafe. I've heard of one case where an SHO was
"asked" to cover the night when she had already worked all day... that can't
be safe either.
I don't know whether all Trusts have gone down this line but my own is
proposing to make locums sign a form saying they are "fit" for duty.
Yes I agree that Juniors sickness rates are increasing, but I'm not sure
what can be done about it. It's a culture change. Bottom line is we will
need even more doctors on the front line!
Ray McGlone
A&E Consultant
Lancaster
----- Original Message -----
From: "Danny McGeehan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2001 8:55 PM
Subject: Re: Chaos in A & E
> 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
>
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