02 FYi


• •


Welcome News


NEW CAPACITY AND


CONSENT TOOL FROM GMC DOCTORS struggling with issues around consent and capacity can consult a new online tool launched by the General Medical Council. The interactive mental capacity decision support tool draws on the principles of the regulator’s guidance Consent: patients and doctors making decisions together and Treatment and care towards the end of life.


Welcome to your FYi


WORKING long tiring shifts seems to be the accepted norm for trainee doctors, especially as the NHS contends with increasingly limited resources. But what if you are so exhausted you fear you can no longer provide safe patient care? I offer some words of advice on when to speak up in my article on page 10. If you are struggling to cope


with work pressures, then help is at hand. Our article on page 5 offers practical tips on managing stress and avoiding burnout as part of an RMBF campaign. A new MDDUS-sponsored


book of poetry offers reflections on life as a junior doctor. Find out more, including how to get your free copy, on page 7. What are your professional


obligations to help a stranger in need of emergency medical care? MDDUS medical adviser Dr Greg Dollman advises on acting as a ‘Good Samaritan’ on page 6.


Manned missions to Mars are


a real possibility in the coming decades - but what are the ethical considerations of sending humans into space? Dr Allan Gaw investigates on page 12. A recent GMC study gauging


the preparedness for practice of medical graduates found more than half were against proposals to move full registration to the point of graduation. Our article on page 4 considers both sides of the argument. If you like the idea of using


the latest technology to diagnose, treat and monitor a variety of illnesses, then radiology could be the specialty for you. Find out more in our career article on page 8. Our case study on page 14


follows a seemingly simple case of persistent dyspepsia that has a grave outcome.


• Dr Naeem Nazem Editor


It can be used across the UK and includes a case study at each stage


of the decision-making process to show how the guidance applies to the clinical situations doctors may face. Access the tool on the GMC website: www.gmc-uk.org/Mental_ Capacity_flowchart/


MDDUS members can also watch video modules on consent and


download checklists on our website in the Risk Management eLearning centre.


CONCERNS OVER HOSPITAL DISCHARGE PROCESS


MOST hospital inpatients “always” have confidence and trust in doctors but only two-thirds feel their family or home situation is taken into account when planning their discharge. These are key findings from


the recently published NHS Adult Inpatient Survey 2015 involving over 83,000 hospital inpatients. In the survey, 84 per cent (up


from 81 per cent in 2014) reported that they were “always” treated with respect and dignity in hospital and 71 per cent (up from 69 per cent in 2014) said that when they had important questions for doctors or nurses they “always” got answers that they could understand. A growing majority also said


EDITOR:


Dr Naeem Nazem MBChB BSc (Hons) MRCP LLB (Hons)


ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Joanne Curran Jim Killgore


DESIGN: Connect Communications www.connectmedia.cc


PRINT: Printwell www.printwell-ltd.co.uk


CORRESPONDENCE: FYi Editor MDDUS Mackintosh House 120 Blythswood Street Glasgow G2 4EA


t: e:


0845 270 2034 FYi@mddus.com


w: www.mddus.com


that they “always” had confidence and trust in doctors (82 per cent) and nurses (79 per cent), and 60 per cent said that they were “definitely” involved as much as they wanted to be in decisions about their care and treatment –


an improvement on the 57 per cent in 2014. But figures around post-


treatment discharge planning were less encouraging, with 41 per cent of discharged patients reporting not being told about medication side effects, and only 62 per cent feeling that hospital staff completely took their family or home situation into account when planning the discharge process. Only 56 per cent agreed they had received enough support from health and social care professionals to help them manage their condition after leaving hospital. Commenting on the results, Dr


Andrew McCulloch, who developed and coordinated the survey for the CQC, said: “Patients need to leave hospital with clear information and understanding about their ongoing care and medicines. Too often this is not happening, and improvement is needed to benefit patients and the NHS alike.”


FYi is published by The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, Registered in Scotland No 5093 at Mackintosh House, 120 Blythswood Street, Glasgow G2 4EA. The MDDUS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MDDUS are discretionary as set out in the Articles of Association. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in FYi are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16