You have to be blind, deaf and from a different planet if you have not come across this statement from a variety of individuals and organisations in UK.
' EMERGENCY MEDICINE IS IN CRISIS IN UK'
I thought I will reflect on this based on my own experience and exposure to emergency medicine in UK over the last 12 years. I did my medical education and surgical training in India. I came to work in NHS in 2000 to pursue further training in surgery. In about 2 years I realized that pursuing a surgical career in UK with a young family would be rather difficult. I choose to train and work in emergency medicine.
I come from a country where emergency medicine is in its infancy. I have seen the terrible loss of life and limb because of lack of basic emergency services. I understand the value of high quality emergency services.
Now let us look at why emergency medicine is in crisis is in UK. I will try to steer clear of rhetoric and try and stick to objective facts as I see them. I apologize in advance for a certain degree of bias based on my experience.
There are many factors which have lead to the crisis in emergency medicine. Some of these factors are common to other acute care specialities.
1-Most doctors want to work 9-5 and want to do as little out of hours work as possible. This culture among the vast majority of doctors particularly the younger generation has lead to a staffing crisis in emergency medicine.
2-Governmental decision to abolish permit free training in 2006 because of short term target of ensuring the success of MTAS.
3-Inadequate remuneration for out of hours work which is forced upon non-consultant career doctors(SAS doctors and Clinical Fellows) and trainees.
4-Work intensity which is unsustainable for prolonged periods of time.
5-Emergency department overcrowding leading to a unhealthy work atmosphere.
Each of the above factors have multiple contributing factors. Until all stakeholders are willing to sit down and have a transparent constructive discussions this crisis will not be resolved. At the moment that is not happening and yet another short term fix is being planned by the people in charge of making these decisions. This is an ineffective way of dealing with the issues facing emergency medicine.
' EMERGENCY MEDICINE IS IN CRISIS IN UK'
I thought I will reflect on this based on my own experience and exposure to emergency medicine in UK over the last 12 years. I did my medical education and surgical training in India. I came to work in NHS in 2000 to pursue further training in surgery. In about 2 years I realized that pursuing a surgical career in UK with a young family would be rather difficult. I choose to train and work in emergency medicine.
I come from a country where emergency medicine is in its infancy. I have seen the terrible loss of life and limb because of lack of basic emergency services. I understand the value of high quality emergency services.
Now let us look at why emergency medicine is in crisis is in UK. I will try to steer clear of rhetoric and try and stick to objective facts as I see them. I apologize in advance for a certain degree of bias based on my experience.
There are many factors which have lead to the crisis in emergency medicine. Some of these factors are common to other acute care specialities.
1-Most doctors want to work 9-5 and want to do as little out of hours work as possible. This culture among the vast majority of doctors particularly the younger generation has lead to a staffing crisis in emergency medicine.
2-Governmental decision to abolish permit free training in 2006 because of short term target of ensuring the success of MTAS.
3-Inadequate remuneration for out of hours work which is forced upon non-consultant career doctors(SAS doctors and Clinical Fellows) and trainees.
4-Work intensity which is unsustainable for prolonged periods of time.
5-Emergency department overcrowding leading to a unhealthy work atmosphere.
Each of the above factors have multiple contributing factors. Until all stakeholders are willing to sit down and have a transparent constructive discussions this crisis will not be resolved. At the moment that is not happening and yet another short term fix is being planned by the people in charge of making these decisions. This is an ineffective way of dealing with the issues facing emergency medicine.
