52000 new patients, 5 SHO's, 2 consultants, 1 associate specialist, 2 SG's and 2 unfilled SG's which we fill with locums when we can get them usually from the RSA but they are drying up.
Basically it has got too busy and we are all getting sucked in. Due to volume of work SG's working to 1 or 2 in the morning shifting the work and all of us knackering ourselves. Can suddenly be in the situation where 8 patients truck up, chest pains, nutters, drunks etc.
I know I look through rose tinted spectacles but even 3 or 4 years ago it was a nice dept. Plenty of time to see patients, teach but now getting beyond the pale. One of our SG's who has now departed for primary care post described working in A & E as being on big brother, everything he did was under the microscope.
I try and avoid the meltdown approach as it is the SHO's who are vulnerable and I see their time in A&E as crucial. Only 5 or our jobs have a number and that is the problem.
Last year I spent yonks on the phone to the GMC saying I had the money, but no money no recognised post. You can't use docs with limited registration, although I heaar the position may have changed.
We are a relatively small dept. in numbers but for staffing levels extremely busy and often remain open when surrounding units go onto respite.
BTW yesterday nearly every unit in the area closed and I have never known it for August. As Adrain said there isn't much holding it together.
Kind regards
Danny McGeehan
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