More patients could be treated in the UK if associate specialists' skills were recognised
http://www.100md.com
《英国医生杂志》
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 Khan told delegates.
In a video broadcast at the conference Miss Pushpa Dudani, a breast surgeon in Rotherham, recounted how patients questioned her right to treat them when they saw the words "associate specialist" on her badge despite the fact that she had 15 years' experience in the specialty.
"As an associate specialist, I can do the same things consultants do, but I'm not allowed to become one because the royal colleges don't recognise all my years of experience. They have tunnel vision, and unless they change their attitude, we're not going to move forward at all," she said.
Another doctor, Mr Vijay Kumar, who now works in Yorkshire, held a senior post in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia and had trained many doctors who now practised as consultants in the NHS. However, his experience is not recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons, which prevents him from qualifying as a consultant and limits the amount of responsibility he can take.
"It's frustrating that so many patients waiting for operations are being sent overseas or to independent sector treatment centres staffed by surgeons from countries like South Africa. I fail to understand why they can't be treated by someone like me," said Mr Kumar.
Associate specialists also lose out financially. At the top of their grade, associate specialists can earn around ￡60000 ($110000; 90000) whereas their consultant colleagues doing the same work can expect to earn more than ￡101500.
Mr Khan complained about delays in negotiating a new contract for staff and associate specialist doctors, which was due to start in April this year.
"The pay differential is ever increasing between SAS doctors and their medical colleagues in the NHS, and we are tired of waiting," he said.
Delegates voted unanimously for the BMA to tackle the delayed new contract as a matter of urgency to secure better conditions and pay for these grades.(Zosia Kmietowicz)
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 Khan told delegates.
In a video broadcast at the conference Miss Pushpa Dudani, a breast surgeon in Rotherham, recounted how patients questioned her right to treat them when they saw the words "associate specialist" on her badge despite the fact that she had 15 years' experience in the specialty.
"As an associate specialist, I can do the same things consultants do, but I'm not allowed to become one because the royal colleges don't recognise all my years of experience. They have tunnel vision, and unless they change their attitude, we're not going to move forward at all," she said.
Another doctor, Mr Vijay Kumar, who now works in Yorkshire, held a senior post in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia and had trained many doctors who now practised as consultants in the NHS. However, his experience is not recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons, which prevents him from qualifying as a consultant and limits the amount of responsibility he can take.
"It's frustrating that so many patients waiting for operations are being sent overseas or to independent sector treatment centres staffed by surgeons from countries like South Africa. I fail to understand why they can't be treated by someone like me," said Mr Kumar.
Associate specialists also lose out financially. At the top of their grade, associate specialists can earn around ￡60000 ($110000; 90000) whereas their consultant colleagues doing the same work can expect to earn more than ￡101500.
Mr Khan complained about delays in negotiating a new contract for staff and associate specialist doctors, which was due to start in April this year.
"The pay differential is ever increasing between SAS doctors and their medical colleagues in the NHS, and we are tired of waiting," he said.
Delegates voted unanimously for the BMA to tackle the delayed new contract as a matter of urgency to secure better conditions and pay for these grades.(Zosia Kmietowicz)