More patients could be treated in the UK if associate specialists' skills were recognised
BMJ 2004; 329 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.329.7456.11-a (Published 01 July 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;329:11
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Editor- Dear Sir The PMETB Order 2003 is a fair and proactive
legislation which takes into account overseas achievements and also
recognises the Postgraduate Experiential learning as equivalent to
training on the basis of knowledge skills attitude competencies.
There is senior medical workforce gap in UK . This has led to initiatives
like(1) Foreign Doctors coming to operate , (2) International Fellows
being appointed and(3) Modernising Medical Careers with shortening of
training.It is often the NHS Doctors who have to pick up the peices and
provide aftercare when the Foreign experts have left.The International
Fellow recruitment is an expensive exercise and has not solved the
problem in last 2 years. They also do not have the understanding of NHS
work or system as well as the Associate Specialists. Dr Jim Johnson
Chairman CCSC ,BMA has gone on record (BMA News Saturday 3rd July 2004)to
express his concerns as to shortening of training. I think it is about
the prospect of less skilled and half as experienced Consultants being
incharge of patients in NHS in future.The Junior Doctors themselves feel
lacking in confidence after completing their training and the award of
CCST. I am not clairvoyant but can see trouble ahead.
So, Dr Jim Johnson and Mr Mohib Khan what are you doing for it when you
have understood the situation and know the hard facts? May I suggest that
you should tap into the resource available right here in NHS. Many
Associate Specialists have vast experience of NHS work and and considered
'fit for purpose' at par with International fellows at Consultant level .
They are twice as qualified and experienced than required to be
Consultants in NHS but so far have not been given Specialist Registration
due to the label of Non-Consultalt career grade. The PMETB order 2003
rectifies this unfair situation and should be interpreted to help resolve
the issue. The Royal collges do not want to create hurdles for the sake of
Calman label.There is an attitude change happening although some still may
not find it palatable.My direct answer to them that it is not a back door
entry and is fair and just to acknowledge the hidden talent = Associate
Specialists in NHS Trusts. Remember that in the past it took 15 years and
some experience at Senior Registrar level which produced the Consultants.
Now one can say that Associate Specialists are VERY 'EXPERIENCED SENIOR
REGISTRARS' WHO ARE ALREADY FUNCTIONING AT CONSULTANT LEVEL. so why not
give them the recognition necessary to show their full range of expertise
with direct benefit to the NHS and its patients. This ultimately is
service to the Trusts , Department of Health and the Country with the
least of resource/training implications and NHS quality assured.
The issue is to accept that Existing Associate Specialists, who have
endeavoured to gain skills experience training higher and specialist
qualifications over so many years, are at least equivalent to 4-5 years
of calman training to obtain Specilaist Registration and
accreditation.This will enable them to treat more patients and be an asset
to their local Trusts. Let us not anyone throw spanner in the works and
expedite the date that PMETB gets fully operational and assesment are done
as promised.
Yours Truly.
Dr Kumar Rajiv
References
1.More patients could be treated in the UK if Associate Specialists'
skills were to be recognised. BMJ2004;329:11
2.Modernising Medical Careers a threat to Juniors training
BMA News Saturday 3rd July 2004
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Associate specialists and so many staff grade specialists were under
the mercy of the various Royal colleges for too long. It is a shame,
nobody could do anything about these talented mostly overseas doctors.
These are very valuable and important group of doctors without which Nhs
could collapse, yet these doctors with lot of experience and postgraduate
qualifications from the Royal colleges are not being recognised by the
same Royal colleges.
It is time that the Royal colleges devise a sensible short time the so
called higher professional training in various specialities and to tailer
the traing according to the experience and qualifications of individual
doctors.Within a few years all these doctors should become consultants in
their own specialities to correct the deficiency of consultants in NHS.
This plan could help all the consultant collegues and mostly patients in
the United kingdom.
Hope somebody take the initiative and get on to the job.
The BMA should use all its power to acheive this end as soon as possible
to be credible as a body representing all the doctors in United kingdom.
"SOMEBODY IS ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY ELSE SAID COULD NOT BE
DONE"
Glory to Associate specialists and Staff grade doctors.
Glory to National Health Service
Competing interests:
none
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: Associate specialists skills
It is indeed a sad state of affairs that SAS Drs and their skills has
not been utilised by the Govt.SAS drs are trained and qualified from UK
and many of them are already delivering a specialist service equivalent to
that of Consultant collegues. The Govt in trying to reduce waiting list
has sold services to various private companies who are bringing doctors
from abroad who have not trained here,have not worked here and who have
not done the exams from here.If the public were asked by a Mori poll
whether they would like their operations carried out by a SAS dr whom they
know has had training and qualified here or a person from abroad with none
of these credentials then we would get a very simple answer.
SAS drs are prevented from operating in private hospitals.But the Drs with
the companies which have been contracted to do the waiting list patients
are given thee priviliges.The operation which is performed independantly
and competenly by a SAS dr in the NHS cannot be done in the private
sector!
This situation has to be adrressed and rectified and it will be a much
better and economical use of valuable resources.Thousands of tax payers
money can be saved by this.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests