BMJ  2004;329:11 (3 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7456.11-a

News

BMA annual representative meeting, Llandudno, 28 June to 1 July

More patients could be treated in the UK if associate specialists' skills were recognised

Llandudno

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Thousands of patients who are being sent abroad for surgery could be treated in their local hospital if the skills of staff and associate specialist doctors working throughout the NHS were properly recognised, the BMA's annual conference heard.

Mr Mohib Khan, chairman of the Staff and Associate Specialists Committee, said that the doctors he represents have been treated as an underclass, often bullied and harassed by colleagues and frustrated and demoralised by their lack of progression and recognition.

Despite years of experience the careers of many of the 12 500 specialist doctors in the United Kingdom are being blocked. These doctors are prevented from applying for consultant posts because their experience does not count towards inclusion on the specialist register, even though legislation to allow them to do so was passed last year.

"Patients are losing out because highly skilled specialists are being prevented from offering their full expertise," Mr . . . [Full text of this article]

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Associate specialists skills

Kurri pakirareddy
bmj.com, 2 Jul 2004 [Full text]

A New Opportunity for Associate Specialists and NHS patient care.

Kumar Rajiv
bmj.com, 4 Jul 2004 [Full text]

Re: Associate specialists skills

Sankaran chandrasekharan
bmj.com, 7 Jul 2004 [Full text]