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Aberdeen Royal Infirmary consultants 'fear for safe A&E care' Aberdeen Royal Infirmary consultants 'fear for safe A&E care'
(about 9 hours later)
Accident and emergency consultants at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary are worried they will not be able to provide the "safe care" of patients because of staff shortages, a report has revealed.Accident and emergency consultants at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary are worried they will not be able to provide the "safe care" of patients because of staff shortages, a report has revealed.
The number of senior doctors has dropped from 10 to two in a year.The number of senior doctors has dropped from 10 to two in a year.
The report to NHS Grampian says senior consultants fear they may not be able to resuscitate the most seriously ill or injured patients. The report to NHS Grampian from senior consultants says they fear they may not be able to resuscitate the most seriously ill or injured patients.
NHS Grampian said "appropriate medical cover" was of "key importance".NHS Grampian said "appropriate medical cover" was of "key importance".
Scottish Labour said the health board had been "grossly underfunded" by the Scottish government but Health Secretary Alex Neil said any additional support the board requires to meet its recruitment would be provided. Scottish Labour said the health board had been "grossly underfunded" by the Scottish government but Health Secretary Alex Neil said any additional support the board required to meet its recruitment would be provided.
The staffing issue is due to be discussed by the NHS Grampian board on Friday morning. It is understood some vacancies have been filled within the past 48 hours. The staffing issue is due to be discussed by the NHS Grampian board on Friday morning.
The report on the emergency department notes a "significant gap in the cover" provided due to the level of current doctors. Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen, the medical director at NHS Grampian, told BBC Scotland a number of posts had been filled and he was "optimistic" of raising the number of A&E doctors back to eight within the next few days.
The NHS Grampian report on the emergency department notes a "significant gap in the cover" provided due to the level of current doctors.
It states: "The consultant group's principal concern is that they will not be able to continue to provide safe care for patients in need of their agreed primary role i.e. resuscitation of those with life and limb-threatening conditions.It states: "The consultant group's principal concern is that they will not be able to continue to provide safe care for patients in need of their agreed primary role i.e. resuscitation of those with life and limb-threatening conditions.
"As well as patients, they are also concerned about the potential impact on all staff who work in the emergency department, unscheduled care and the rest of the hospital."As well as patients, they are also concerned about the potential impact on all staff who work in the emergency department, unscheduled care and the rest of the hospital.
"Discussions on cover are under way, including on remuneration and terms and conditions, should local staff be required to provide cover for some of the gaps identified.""Discussions on cover are under way, including on remuneration and terms and conditions, should local staff be required to provide cover for some of the gaps identified."
Offering postsOffering posts
An NHS Grampian spokesman said: "Appropriate medical cover in ED (emergency department) is of key importance to us and is receiving our closest attention. Dr Dijkhuizen said there were a number of factors that contributed to difficulties recruiting junior doctors into training for the A&E profession.
"A top level group involving all ED consultants and senior management has been set up and is meeting on a weekly basis. The NHS Grampian medical director said the workload in A&E had increased and there were now far more people who were "not acutely unwell" attending accident and emergency.
"Recruitment to EDs is acknowledged as an issue in the UK and across western Europe. Considerable recruitment activity is ongoing nationally and internationally. He said junior doctors were finding dealing with the chronic illness of elderly patients in A&E "less challenging" and the discipline had become "less attractive".
"A number of key posts are out to advert, and early indications are that appointments will be made." Dr Dijkhuizen added: "Quite often when we think have got hospital crises, actually the crises originate because there is not enough clinical capacity and not enough social support in the community for patients who are very vulnerable.
"If then that care at home falls apart these patients end up in the A&E department."
Dr Dijkhuizen said that he did not think levels of pay were a major factor in the problems recruiting doctors.
North East Labour MSP Lewis MacDonald called on the Scottish government to provide NHS Grampian with more money.North East Labour MSP Lewis MacDonald called on the Scottish government to provide NHS Grampian with more money.
He told BBC Scotland: "Clearly there is an issue here that needs to be addressed and my concern is that NHS Grampian, once again, is facing huge difficulties finding the staff that it needs, including the senior staff that it needs, as a consequence of its gross underfunding by the Scottish government."He told BBC Scotland: "Clearly there is an issue here that needs to be addressed and my concern is that NHS Grampian, once again, is facing huge difficulties finding the staff that it needs, including the senior staff that it needs, as a consequence of its gross underfunding by the Scottish government."
Previous warning
Health Secretary Alex Neil said: "NHS Grampian have assured us that they are taking all necessary steps to recruit the doctors they need by August.Health Secretary Alex Neil said: "NHS Grampian have assured us that they are taking all necessary steps to recruit the doctors they need by August.
"NHS Grampian have already seen positive results from the range of actions they are taking - with two posts already filled, and in this week alone they've progressed three posts to the final stage of agreement, and received notes of interest for a further three posts."NHS Grampian have already seen positive results from the range of actions they are taking - with two posts already filled, and in this week alone they've progressed three posts to the final stage of agreement, and received notes of interest for a further three posts.
"Through the work of our £50m Unscheduled Care Action Plan, the Scottish government stands ready to provide the board with any additional support they may require in current recruitment round.""Through the work of our £50m Unscheduled Care Action Plan, the Scottish government stands ready to provide the board with any additional support they may require in current recruitment round."
Previous warning
The health board said a range of other measures was also being considered to improve the flow of patients from the emergency department to other specialities in the hospital.The health board said a range of other measures was also being considered to improve the flow of patients from the emergency department to other specialities in the hospital.
The NHS Grampian spokesman added: "The public can be reassured that this issue is very firmly on our radar screen and that, with colleagues in ED, we will work towards ensuring appropriate staffing levels are in place from August so that the appropriate level of medical cover is in place."
In December, more than 20 consultants at ARI wrote to NHS Grampian's board, warning that services in key areas were at breaking point.In December, more than 20 consultants at ARI wrote to NHS Grampian's board, warning that services in key areas were at breaking point.