BMA Cymru Wales is today launching a campaign aimed at improving the working lives of junior doctors in Wales. It’s previously been touched upon on this blog, but we have now become extremely concerned about the working conditions of junior doctors and the impact that this could have both on careers and on patient safety. [...]
Archive for July, 2009
The Option 7 campaign – to improve the lives of junior doctors in Wales
Friday, July 31st, 2009
Action needed now to stop NHS Wales becoming unsafe for staff and patients
Thursday, July 30th, 2009Unless urgent action is taken to plug the gap in the shortage of middle grade doctors, the NHS in Wales could become unsafe both for staff and patients. The problem‘s been highlighted this week within Hywel Dda NHS Trust, where 62 posts remain vacant. But this situation is by no means isolated to Hywel Dda, [...]
Stroke patients in Wales deserve better
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009Having come across this latest research into acute stroke care centres, it only serves to demonstrate just how much Wales continues to lag behind other countries, including England and Ireland and how vital it is that Wales not only starts playing catch up, but that it also is at least on a par with other [...]
Wales is right to opt out of swine flu helpline – for now
Monday, July 27th, 2009Looking at some of the media coverage over the weekend and the past week in fact, it only serves to reassure me that Wales is right so far, to opt out of the National Pandemic Flu Service, now operating in England. The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Dr Tony Jewell, attended a meeting of our [...]
Employers need to keep us informed as swine flu spreads, to stop NHS Wales from grinding to a halt
Friday, July 24th, 2009As swine flu continues to grip the UK, everyone is looking to the health of the public, which is of course only right. I think there is also though an urgent need to look at the implications for health staff and how services can be best managed to ensure they can cope with the demand. [...]
Aiming for some perspective on swine flu
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009I thought it about time that I addressed the issue of swine flu here, having perhaps unintentionally avoided doing so, so far! It is understandable that people will be worried when they hear about the potential number of fatalities that may arise due to the pandemic. However, it should be remembered that these are worst [...]
Candid evidence on sunbeds gives more support to our fight for regulation of the industry
Friday, July 10th, 2009The Assembly’s Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee started hearing evidence yesterday into its inquiry into sunbed use in Wales. And it was certainly powerful evidence for the case FOR regulating the industry. The mother of teenager Kirsty McRae who suffered 70% burns after using a coin-operated sunbed spoke to the committee of how worrying [...]
Health Minister’s decision to extend free accommodation for junior doctors indefinitely is great news
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009It’s been confirmed this afternoon by the Welsh Assembly Government that all first year doctors training in Wales will now benefit from free hospital accommodation INDEFINITELY. This really is great news. Most junior doctors reading this will no doubt be aware that Health Minister Edwina Hart had previously agreed to extend the provision of free [...]
Reminder about GMC Licensing campaign
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009I thought it important to bring to members’ attention the launch of the next phase of the GMC’s licensing campaign, called ‘Licensing: it’s time to decide’. The GMC’s been asking registered doctors to confirm whether they wish to hold registration with a licence or registration without a licence when the scheme begins on 16th November [...]
Last chance to have your say and be in with a chance of winning an iPod
Monday, July 6th, 2009Just to remind all F1 doctors in Wales about this blog post. We would like you to complete our online survey for BMA Cymru Wales’ ‘Guide to Welsh Hospitals for F1s’ publication. In doing so, you will be entered into a draw to win an iPod Classic 80G. The closing date has now been extended [...]
ARM – day four – rounding off with occupational health, tobacco and alcohol debates
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009To kick off the last session of the BMA’s 2009 ARM conference, members looked at the topic of occupational health, something which has been a pertinent issue at BMA Cymru Wales recently. We’ve been seeking assurances that the future of the Primary Care Support Service (PCSS), which is the ONLY occupational health service for doctors [...]
ARM – focus on student finance/debt
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009And so to yesterday afternoon’s session of the ARM. We heard the reports from chairs of the following branch of practice committees: general practice; private practice; staff and associate specialists; medical students and junior doctors. A number of issues within those professions were debated. Conference was treated to a notably lively and impassioned debate on [...]