Change is a fact of life. Some change is good; some challenges our views and beliefs. How we perceive change varies with our circumstances. Sensitivity, flexibility and a recognition that exceptions need embracing and solving rather than ignoring the issues are key for us in healthcare; our patients are individuals with often complex and multiple [...]
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
It is time for all doctors to stand up to lead and influence change
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
Welsh Health Survey
Friday, May 17th, 2013Well I couldn’t not mention, the results of the latest Welsh Health Survey on our blog. The good news is that the figures reveal there has been a decrease in drinking levels in Wales. The latest survey found that 42% of adults reported drinking above the guidelines on at least one day in the past [...]
Graduated Driver Licensing
Monday, May 13th, 2013Graduated driver licensing has been tabled for debate at this years Annual Representative Meeting. Some food for thought from Dr Sarah Jones on the topic below – thanks Sarah! I’m looking forward to a good debate. Passing the driving test is, for most new drivers, the key to freedom and independence. Unfortunately, for too many [...]
BMA GPC Wales Election of Welsh Representatives 2013-2016
Thursday, May 9th, 2013Nominations are sought in the election of voting members of GPC (Wales) of the BMA as Welsh representatives for the following constituencies: Gwent Local Medical Committee, North Wales Local Medical Committee and Dyfed Powys Local Medical Committee. For further information or a nomination form, please contact Miss Sarah Ellmes, Committee Executive Officer by calling 02920 [...]
NHS Staff Survey
Friday, May 3rd, 2013Canvassing NHS staff opinion through regular staff surveys is an important exercise that allows both NHS employers and Health Boards to gauge the mood of the workforce. It is even more important that regular staff surveys like this are undertaken following the recent Francis Report. This survey reflects much that is good in NHS Wales [...]
What is a good clinical teacher?
Friday, April 26th, 2013On Wednesday evening we held the BMA Cymru Wales / BMJ Learning, Clinical Teacher of the Year Awards in Cardiff. Our fantastic MC for the evening, Domhnall MacAuley, primary care editor at the BMJ has written this blog about clinical teaching: What is a good clinical teacher? At the BMJ we focus on “Helping doctors [...]
The challenge of being a healthy health practitioner
Friday, April 5th, 2013Guest blog by Dr Glyn Jones, Consultant in Occupational Medicine, Aneurin Bevan Health Board As a consultant in occupational medicine, I am used to talking to patients about embarking on healthier lifestyles. However, recently, I’ve been made to realise just how hard that can be to do. I have been taking part in Champions for [...]
Francis – putting an end to “lies, dammed lies and government statistics”
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013Guest blog from Dr Martin Murphy, Clinical director and architect on the NHS Wales IT program in NWIS. A superficial interpretation of the important information recommendations in the Francis report is that we must start to measure quality alongside performance. So we will start to see pundits who grew up in the target culture, vying for [...]
Laparoscopic surgery training in Iraq
Wednesday, March 27th, 2013Guest blog by Dr Moayed Aziz, (pictured below) President, Iraqi Medical Society International The Iraqi Medical Society International (a UK based voluntary organisation) organised a week long training course on laparoscopic surgery and a workshop in Iraq in February this year. The course aimed to address the need of Iraqi surgeons for a structured training [...]
We all need to improve quality together
Thursday, March 14th, 2013Guest blog from Dr Phil Kloer, Director of Clinical Services at Hywel Dda Health Board. Every doctor has had an experience where despite our best efforts to get care right for our patients something has gone wrong. But there is an increasing sense that when something goes wrong, simply blaming clinicians does not make care [...]
NHS Bursary Arrangements for Welsh Domiciled Students for 2013/14
Tuesday, March 12th, 2013Uncertain about the NHS Bursary arrangements for 2013/14? The existing support arrangements will continue for 2013/14. Students undertaking a 5/6 year undergraduate medical course will continue to have their fees paid in full from year 5 of their course via the NHS Bursary. Graduates on a 4 year accelerated programme will have the first £3,465 [...]
Dr David Bailey’s annual report to the Welsh Conference of Representatives of Local Medical Committees 2013
Monday, March 4th, 2013This is my last annual report to Welsh Conference and it may be a cliché but it’s been an interesting year. I started my time as chairman with an imposition and very nearly ended the same way but happily some sanity prevailed in Wales leading to a negotiated settlement. This settlement is by no means [...]