OUR RESEARCH - YOUR SKILLS: INDUSTRY INSIGHT
HPD Exclusive Report
through. doctor (and medical student healthcare in the 21st century, and
alike) will shout from every softer skills such as Emotional
But there are other issues too; hospital rooftop “the bureaucrat Intelligence (E.I). These are the
age old issues; issues that have is dead; long live the consultant skills that will propel new doctors
never quite been tackled. Stress in charge”. up the hierarchy in years to come,
is something people don’t simply because the environment
usually associate with being a If, as many predict Labour will will demand it of those that
doctor (unless you are training be ousted out of offi ce, and will possess it. George made a
to be one of course), at least not be replaced by the inexperienced, particular point for medical
readily. The truth is that doctors usually hostile to the NHS students to know the economics
experience a higher number of – Conservatives, at the next of the NHS. As an example, he
divorces, and are the third in rank elections in 2010. If the rumours said “it was better for the NHS if
for alcoholism, closely behind are right and the Policy Exchange, doctors prescribed cheaper drugs
Bankers & Engineers. Every a right of centre think tank, have that reduced cholesterol by 80%,
medical student l have ever anything to do with it, then the than by prescribing drugs that
known lives by the motto “work NHS crown will be handed back would reduce cholesterol by 85%
hard; play hard”, but times are to the doctors, in what may be a but were far more expensive. It
changing, and it’s time medical rather lengthy transition. This was better to reduce cholesterol
students know what’s coming means that doctors will once for a much wider population by
their way. again lead the health service, 80% than by lowering cholesterol
and pioneer health delivery over by 85% in far fewer numbers.”
The NHS historically was led by the coming decade, if not more.
doctors. They ruled the roost. What this means is that doctors When put like that, it seems
Then New labour arrived in will become leaders. But are blindingly obvious. And yet
1997, and the rooster became the they ready for such a role? the NHS and doctors alike
“roosted”! In a nutshell, power sometimes do the exact opposite
was systematically stripped from George was clear that medical due to media pressures and
doctors and handed to a new schools and the NHS need to through mindless bureaucratic
set of Gods – the bureaucrats. spend more resources and time targets. Its cases like these that
These grey suited, bean counters in training medical students medical students of the future
created the targets culture, for leadership roles. Students will have to tackle and those
which to be fair has infi nitely need to be taught, and trained who can adequately understand
helped the NHS become more to bring people onside, to build fi nancial prudence in the NHS
effi cient and accountable to a consensus, to infl uence, to will fl ourish. So it’s paramount
tax payers, but at the same pioneer a vision, to improve that medical students become
time become an overweight, processes, and manage the better versed in economics and
needlessly bureaucratic, and a leaky bank account of the NHS. managing budgets.
poor environment to work in. “Presently, that’s just not on the
Moral can be low in many wards. curriculum” says George. Another area which medical
A bullying culture often exists, students need to develop is
where a breach in targets means So what of medical students? interpersonal skills, as well
a severe wrap on the wrists for Again the Professor had some as E.I. Interpersonal skills
any medical professional. But clear and succinct points to make. are invaluable says George as
dear readers, especially medical Medical students need to invest doctors are always in front of
students, there is light at the end in themselves. They need to patients and sometimes giving
of the tunnel. The day of the fi nd training outside the medical diffi cult news. How does one tell
bureaucrat maybe numbered. faculty that will introduce a woman aged 42 with two young
There is great deal of talk in the them to leadership skills, daughters that she has 6 months
NHS about the reintroduction of decision making, understanding to live due to her cancer having
clinical leadership. Soon every the economics of delivering spread? “It’s simply exhausting,
18
HPD Sept ‘09 - Feb ‘10
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