This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24814011
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| BMA: Northern Ireland must stem loss of junior doctors | BMA: Northern Ireland must stem loss of junior doctors |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government must do more to stop junior doctors from leaving Northern Ireland to work abroad, the British Medical Association (BMA) has said. | The government must do more to stop junior doctors from leaving Northern Ireland to work abroad, the British Medical Association (BMA) has said. |
| It said part of the problem is that junior doctors working in the UK are facing increasingly challenging and highly pressured work environments. | It said part of the problem is that junior doctors working in the UK are facing increasingly challenging and highly pressured work environments. |
| This forces some to move overseas where conditions are more favourable, according to the BMA. | This forces some to move overseas where conditions are more favourable, according to the BMA. |
| NI chairman, Dr Paul Darragh, said the drain on local talent is immense. | |
| 'Too tough' | 'Too tough' |
| "Our education and training is among the best in the UK. After spending a lot of money training up that pool of talent, eventually some leave to work elsewhere," he told the BBC. | "Our education and training is among the best in the UK. After spending a lot of money training up that pool of talent, eventually some leave to work elsewhere," he told the BBC. |
| "Some of those young people reluctantly leave but conditions here are just too tough. | "Some of those young people reluctantly leave but conditions here are just too tough. |
| While doctors must be prepared to deal with the worst - the argument is that if more were employed per shift - patients would receive an even higher standard of care and there would be fewer mistakes. | While doctors must be prepared to deal with the worst - the argument is that if more were employed per shift - patients would receive an even higher standard of care and there would be fewer mistakes. |
| Queen's University School of Medicine in Belfast is ranked as one of the best in the UK. | Queen's University School of Medicine in Belfast is ranked as one of the best in the UK. |
| Almost 84% of the students who graduated from the school in 2012 opted to begin their careers in Northern Ireland. | Almost 84% of the students who graduated from the school in 2012 opted to begin their careers in Northern Ireland. |
| Just over 12% of them took up employment in Great Britain while almost 2% secured jobs in the Republic of Ireland. | Just over 12% of them took up employment in Great Britain while almost 2% secured jobs in the Republic of Ireland. |
| However, evidence shows that several years after graduation, many junior doctors are moving away to work elsewhere, for instance, emigrating to Australia. | However, evidence shows that several years after graduation, many junior doctors are moving away to work elsewhere, for instance, emigrating to Australia. |
| 'Virtual ward' | 'Virtual ward' |
| Currently, there are 270 medical students preparing to graduate next year from Queen's University School of Medicine. | Currently, there are 270 medical students preparing to graduate next year from Queen's University School of Medicine. |
| One of the highlights of the Queen's course is the simulator exercise where final year students get to experience life on a virtual ward, as actors take on the role of patients. | |
| The 45-minute exercise begins with a ward round then the drama unfolds. | The 45-minute exercise begins with a ward round then the drama unfolds. |
| In one scenario, a female patient who is a chronic asthma sufferer goes into cardiac arrest. The medical student is required to react as they would in a real life medical emergency. | In one scenario, a female patient who is a chronic asthma sufferer goes into cardiac arrest. The medical student is required to react as they would in a real life medical emergency. |
| Chest compressions begin, chest x-rays are ordered, antibiotics are prescribed and nurses are given instructions. Not all necessarily in that particular order. | Chest compressions begin, chest x-rays are ordered, antibiotics are prescribed and nurses are given instructions. Not all necessarily in that particular order. |
| The clinical director of the course is Dr Jim Murray. | |
| 'Call for help' | 'Call for help' |
| "We make students aware of what is going on around them. They shouldn't get too focussed on one particular task and miss things in the wider picture," he said. | "We make students aware of what is going on around them. They shouldn't get too focussed on one particular task and miss things in the wider picture," he said. |
| "We teach them to be decisive, to prioritise, to ask for help to call for help when required - these are all human factors which are far more important in mitigating error or the effects of error," Dr Murray added. | "We teach them to be decisive, to prioritise, to ask for help to call for help when required - these are all human factors which are far more important in mitigating error or the effects of error," Dr Murray added. |
| In cubicle three, the patient loses consciousness. He has been admitted to A&E after being hit by a golf ball. | In cubicle three, the patient loses consciousness. He has been admitted to A&E after being hit by a golf ball. |
| A student is tasked to find out what is wrong and to respond. Even though it is just a simulation, the effect is powerful. | A student is tasked to find out what is wrong and to respond. Even though it is just a simulation, the effect is powerful. |
| Among the students is Adam Gowdy. "Yes it's scary - but it's what I want to do," he said. | Among the students is Adam Gowdy. "Yes it's scary - but it's what I want to do," he said. |
| "The whole point of our training is to prepare for this type of scenario - next year it won't be a simulator, it will be the real thing. | "The whole point of our training is to prepare for this type of scenario - next year it won't be a simulator, it will be the real thing. |
| "Yes that's scary but we are constantly training and next year will be shadowing junior doctors on the wards for 10 weeks." | "Yes that's scary but we are constantly training and next year will be shadowing junior doctors on the wards for 10 weeks." |
| 'Stressful' | 'Stressful' |
| The BMA argues that the UK, and in particular Northern Ireland, trains the best of medical students. Therefore changes need to be made if the UK wants to retain them. | The BMA argues that the UK, and in particular Northern Ireland, trains the best of medical students. Therefore changes need to be made if the UK wants to retain them. |
| Speaking recently, Dr Mark Porter, BMA Chair of Council, said: "Doctors in the NHS face increasingly challenging, high pressured and stressful work environments, often with limited resources and gruelling workloads. | Speaking recently, Dr Mark Porter, BMA Chair of Council, said: "Doctors in the NHS face increasingly challenging, high pressured and stressful work environments, often with limited resources and gruelling workloads. |
| "Unsurprisingly, the result has been more doctors choosing to leave the UK to work abroad. In some specialties, such as emergency medicine, this has contributed to a recruitment crisis and means existing doctors have to work flat out to meet rising demand, " Dr Porter said. | "Unsurprisingly, the result has been more doctors choosing to leave the UK to work abroad. In some specialties, such as emergency medicine, this has contributed to a recruitment crisis and means existing doctors have to work flat out to meet rising demand, " Dr Porter said. |
| "To stem this problem we urgently need to address issues around workload pressures, resourcing and work-life balance. Only by making working practices and environments safe and sustainable will the NHS be able attract and retain the best and brightest." | "To stem this problem we urgently need to address issues around workload pressures, resourcing and work-life balance. Only by making working practices and environments safe and sustainable will the NHS be able attract and retain the best and brightest." |
| Dr Murray said it is important to remember that the students are humans, not robots. | Dr Murray said it is important to remember that the students are humans, not robots. |
| "We are human beings, we all make mistakes but this is how we prepare them for the times when they will be stressed and interrupted. | "We are human beings, we all make mistakes but this is how we prepare them for the times when they will be stressed and interrupted. |
| "This is excellent training among the best in the UK - but we must try and hang on to this great pool of talent." | "This is excellent training among the best in the UK - but we must try and hang on to this great pool of talent." |
| Dr Paul Darragh agrees. | Dr Paul Darragh agrees. |
| "The working conditions must be improved. Other countries abroad can do it - so must we." | "The working conditions must be improved. Other countries abroad can do it - so must we." |