I understand the defensiveness, as most units are not adequately resourced
to perform what they're currently being asked to do, never mind allow time
for A&E senior staff to expand their role into what have traditionally been
medical units. However, in the longer term, I think we need to look at the
skill-base needed to make the whole emergency system of a trust work better;
A&E, or emergency physicians, or whatever you want to call them, possess a
lot of those skills. More to the point, the breed of physician currently
being trained doesn't necessarily. There are undoubtedly hospitals where it
would be unwise to make overtures at this point towards involvement of A&E
on MAU for fear of "being dumped on". BUT.... there are units where the
medics are supportive, where the management understand the importance of a
quality emergency service, where the further training needs for A&E to take
on these roles are understood, and where the A&E staff can understand how
they could fit in to some jointly run system. Looking at the smug
satisfaction of colleagues who have had experience in Australia, it could
even enhance the job that we're currently doing. Sure, it's not for
everyone, but it's worthy of looking at.
Chris Biggin
Consultant in Emergency Medicine
North Tyneside General Hospital
-----Original Message-----
From: Dr P Munro [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 28 September 2002 19:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: John H & the trolley tsar
"...and I can see a blended role developing where current A&E consultants
and current acute physicians merge together to create the new acute
emergency physicians."
Prof Sir George Alberti in Hospital Doctor 26th September.
What on earth does this mean? It sounds like "all those general physicians
who dont want to do any acute receiving work please take one step back".
If there was any sense to the world, John Heyworth would not be advising the
'acute care tsar', he would be it!
More worried than normal.
Phil Munro
A&E Glasgow
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