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Danny, I can only assume - 1. You didn't work the following day. 2. You were given (or took) double the time off in lieu. I think you were probably right to do the shift because it was presumably an exceptional circumstance and it would have been reasonable for the trust to ask you to do it. I think that you should now give them warning that you will not do this again and that they will have to ensure that the situation does not arise again. Presumably, as a single-handed consultant in A&E, you are only expected to work a few fixed sessions to compensate you for all the cover, etc. Now why do I think you work all the hours of the week, instead? There is an ICU in one of the hospitals here where there are not enough registrars. The consultants were asked to fill in the empty slots and live-in sometimes. They agreed to do this and are being paid £1250 per night. Seems reasonable - no? Rocky. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Danny McGeehan" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 11:55 PM Subject: Chaos in A & E > Colleagues > I was looking through the local paper, the Ilford Recorder where I was > brought up and happened to glance on an article about the local A & E Dept > at King George's Hospital. Apparently the appointed Doctor did not turn up > for duty on the night shift. I don't know what the actual events were but > the article seemed to imply that the A & E Consultant did not turn out to > cover the shift. > I do know that we have some big shots who monitor this list as well as a far > smattering of acaedemics and I am only a standard A & E Consultant. > I am a single handed consultant and we have not been able to replace my > colleague for over 18 months. A few months ago a similar situation happened > to me when at the last minute the SHO phoned in sick for the night shift. I > had been working all day and was also rostered to work the next day due to > staff shortages. Hospital management and human resources were a waste of > space and could not get a locum appointment. I was in a similar dilemna. > I went through the usual processes and finished up doing the night shift as > well working the next day. > As the new working pattens emerge my situation and the King George's > Hospital scenario will become more the norm. I would like to ask the list > for their views as to how they would manage the situation. Isn't it > something that BAEM and FAEM should be looking at and laying down standards. > What would the other members of the list have done. > Danny McGeehan > Staffordshire >