My own feeling for what it is worth is the 4 hour targets. In the last 12 months it is the feedback that I get from our SHO's that they find it very stressful to make a decision and move the patients on.
With the F2 posts which we have had in our trust for nearly a year, there are so many other options and they are electing to spend their time in Primary care, clinical chemistry.
I know I have used this facility to complain in the past. However we see 60,000 new cases a year and only have 6 SHO's and with long term sickess there have only been 2 Consultants. When the SHO rings in sick late on Friday afternoon I really have to struggle to get staff and closing the dept does not seem to be an option.
I know there has been a lot of money put into A&E but it has largely been wasted in number crunchers and project managers.
A few years ago I did a telephone poll among a select group of A&E departments and found the long term sickness among Consultants was over 30%. I know there was no stastical significance, but the figures are frightening. I doubt if there are many A&E Dept's in the country who has not had someone off long term sick in the last 2 years. I think we need to look after our own health.
Best wishes
Danny McGeehan
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