Latest News

MARCH 2013

CEM response to the Francis Inquiry report - The College has prepared a statement for Fellows and Members on the Francis Inquiry Report outlining what the report is and why it is important for Emergency Medicine. This document also acts a guide to challenging occurrences of poor care.

Abstract call opening on 1 April 2013 for the CEM Annual scientific conference – Expanding horizons, 24 – 26 September 2013, Twickenham stadium

Applications sought for College Professor - We are seeking to recruit a College of Emergency Medicine Professor in 2013. This post is for 4 years and is awarded in recognition of sustained and continued excellence in academic emergency medicine. This appointment is intended to promote the profile of the recipient, their work and their academic profile along with that of the College of Emergency Medicine.

For further information on the role, please download the job description

Applications in writing are to be submitted to Professor Suzanne Mason, Chair, Research and Publications Committee, c/o College of Emergency Medicine (s.mason@sheffield.ac.uk). Please include a CV and covering letter. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview at the College of Emergency Medicine Headquarters. Applications should be submitted by FRIDAY 3rd MAY 2013 with interviews planned for June or July.

Payment by Results arrangements for 2013-14 - Confirmation of the arrangements for Payment by Results (PbR) in 2013-14 is now available on the DH website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health/series/payment-by-results-2013-14

Consent, Capacity and Restraint of Adults in Emergency Departments - Patients requiring care at the Emergency Department present particular challenges to ensure valid consent. Patients often attend in a crisis; have their capacity impaired by therapeutic or recreational drugs. These patients are attended to by clinicians who may have to make time critical decisions based on incomplete information. The Emergency Department can be a disorientating and frightening environment for patients. A patient is often anxious, afraid and in pain and this can impair their ability to make reasoned and rational choices about their care. Good consent also forms a medico legal defence for the treating clinician in the event of adverse outcome or complaint. The College has published a guideline designed to augment the guidance offered by the General Medical Council and the Department of Health as the College of Emergency Medicine has identified where further guidance is required.

http://secure.collemergencymed.ac.uk/code/document.asp?ID=6885

FEBRUARY 2013

Mental Health in Emergency Departments - A toolkit for improving care: Service provision for patients with mental health issues can be very challenging to resolve. Frequently ED and mental health are provided by discrete organisations, and offering a seamless service to the patient can seem impossible. Much of the commissioning structure for mental health is based around different geographical and logistical domains when compared to acute services. This often results in suboptimal or absent services to patients attending the ED with mental health needs.

The toolkit provides several resources that EDs can use to develop and improve the care provided to patients with mental health issues. Resources include guidelines, example assessment aids, example business cases and standards for EDs.

Download the toolkit

NHS Change Day  13^th March 2013 - Is one day during which the collective energy, creativity and ideas of thousands of NHS staff, and those who support the NHS, in all areas of work and  right across the country, will demonstrate how one simple action or new idea can make a difference and improve care for patients,  their families and their carers. It will be the single largest improvement event in the NHS to date.

Anyone can take part, not just those involved in healthcare. Patients , carers, families, schools and charities are welcome to join us. Change Day is open to everyone who cares about the NHS.

The idea came out of a conversation with young leaders in the NHS, the next generation:  ‘If we are the ones who are doing the work, then we are the people who can change the way we do it - for the better.’ 

Change can begin with very simple ideas.  One innovative suggestion can lead to a new way of thinking which could transform the way we work.

The idea of NHS Change Day is create a mass movement of people working in the NHS and outside of it demonstrating the difference they can make, to mobilise 65,000 NHS staff - 1,000 for each year since the NHS was first established – to take action voluntarily on 13 March 2013, to demonstrate their commitment to improving patient care and create a movement which could lead to more NHS Change Days.

Find out more here and pledge to change the NHS: http://www.changemodel.nhs.uk/pg/groups/33183/NHS+Change+Day/48567?community=NHS+Change+Day 
 

Needlesticks - ED care of patients who have been potentially exposed to blood borne viruses (Feb 2013) - Download the latest position statement from the CEC Best Practice subcommittee

JANUARY 2013

Recognition of EPLS - The CEM curriculum requires trainees to have completed a paediatric life support course and recognises the course is an appropriate proxy for workplace based assessments in the major paediatric presentations.  The College curriculum refers only to APLS but trainers and trainees can be reassured that the EPLS is the equivalent of the APLS and is acceptable as evidence of these competences.

Initial assessment tools - The ED team at QMC Nottingham have kindly shared a range of initial assessment tools designed to be used by nurses for others to adapt and use in their departments.

Press release here (31st January 2013) Challenges facing Emergency Departments

The College has released this press statement today on challenges faciling Emergency Departments.

IFEM Framework for Quality and Safety in the ED (2012) - IFEM has developed a framework for quality and safety that is applicable across the globe. The framework:

• Summarises what patients should expect from an ED.
• Examines how the ED differs from other healthcare settings.
• Presents a theoretical framework for the domains of quality and safety.
• Identifies the enablers and barriers to quality care in the ED.
• Suggests areas where the measurement of indicators may prove valuable

Job Description - National Clinical Director for Urgent Care - The NHS Commissioning Board are recruiting to this role which will provide national clinical commissioning leadership and focus on out-of-hours primary care, rapid response community services, prehospital and ambulance services, urgent care facilities and Emergency Departments.

The appointment is offered on secondment on a part time basis, 0.5 WTE  for a period of up to three years with an annual review of progress.

Apply via www.jobs.nhs.uk/ The deadline for applications is 9th January 2013

Download the job description

DECEMBER 2012

EMTA Christmas newsletter - catch up on the latest news for trainees

Communications strategy agreed for potential flu pandemic - England (Dec 2012) - http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/12/flu-pan-comms/

Christmas message from the President - Dr Mike Clancy reviews a hectic year and the year ahead; and on behalf of everyone at the College wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Service Delivery and Workforce 2013: Tools to help address service and workforce pressures - EDs across the UK are facing considerable service pressures relating to workforce and activity. The College has published a toolkit with the aim of providing assistance to Emergency Medicine clinicians and Departments by listing in one place existing resources together with a description of new developments that we hope will help to address these pressures. It also provides an update on College work to support Emergency Departments and focus attention on finding solutions to the workforce challenges.

This is not a complete resource – where there are blanks the College is working hard to identify or develop resources/guidance, and we are grateful for all the suggestions and good practice examples provided by Fellows and Members to date. If you are aware of existing resources or new initiatives that could appear in this document please contact Gordon Miles (gordon.miles@collemergencymed.ac.uk). The document will be updated and re-issued throughout the next year

Download this document here

National Commissioning Board seeks National Clinical Directors - We have been given notice of some important posts that are being advertised.

The NHS Commissioning Board will be taking over the day-to-day running of the NHS from April 2013 and is now seeking National Clinical Directors to drive this transformation.
 
The 24 National Clinical Directors will focus on improving outcomes for patients in line with the NHS Outcomes Framework and the priorities of the NHS Mandate. Key to the post is developing the interventions that, embedded as commissioning instruments, will overcome the barriers to best care.
 
The full list of the available positions is on the NHS Jobs website: http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/index.html - search under 'National Clinical Director'

New version of Unified Diagnostic DAtaset published - At the moment emergency and urgent care diagnoses are coded in different ways by different organisations. The UDDA is a translation table between SNOMED and ICD10 covering approximately 600 of the most common Emergency Care diagnoses. To help utilise the UDDA effectively we have also published a wallchart and FAQs guide. Download from:

https://secure.collemergencymed.ac.uk/Shop-Floor/Informatics/CEM Unified Diagnostic Dataset (UDDA)

New version of CEM Minimum Dataset published - Download the latest verison of the minimum dataset. THis has been updated to assist EDs with:

• communicating more timely and better quality clinical information with GPs and other   clinicians through the Summary Care Record initiative of CfH to reduce risk  
• collect better quality data about Emergency Department activity to improve standard of care and give commissioners of acute healthcare accurate and consistent information   
• appropriately funding demand and strategic changes in casemix through the HRG/Payment   by Results reimbursement mechanism  
• supporting audit and service improvement initiatives
• monitoring patterns of patient conditions – 'syndromic   surveillance’ of Emergency   Departments that has been identified as key priority for the monitoring of the impact of major   public health incidents e.g. pandemic influenza
• collecting standardised information about causes of injury to ensure that public health   policy such as injury prevention initiatives are informed by accurate data 
• balancing the desire of external organisations to collect information with the   realities of clinical Emergency Medicine  practice  
• facilitating the design and local procurement decisions for Emergency Department   information systems by a clear coordinated college approved standard of data.

CO charity will close unless a good fairy appears with funding support - A charity dedicated to supporting victims of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning faces closure within weeks as the country’s desperate economic plight continues to force public and private sector organisations to curb charitable donations, funding and support. Unless a fairy godmother appears, Carbon Monoxide Awareness will close its doors for the last time on 31 December after seven years dedicated to raising awareness of carbon monoxide and providing a counselling and support service for victims of CO poisoning.

Download appeal

Download free poster for your ED waiting rooms - free gas checks

Download free poster for your ED waiting rooms - CO detectors

December 2012 CEM e-Newsletter Catch up on all the latest news from the College

Accident and Emergency Patient Survey 2012 - read the key findings from the fourth national survey of patients who attended an Emergency Department (A&E) in January, February or March 2012. Almost 46,000 patients aged 16 or older from 147 NHS Trusts in England
completed questionnaires, yielding a response rate of 38%.

http://kingsfund.blogs.com/health_management/2012/12/accident-and-emergency-2012.html

Emergency Medicine Taskforce - Interim Report - In recent years, the poor recruitment at ST4 in Emergency Medicine (EM) has raised concerns within the specialty and the medical profession. The specialty in 2011 and 2012 has achieved a lower than 50% fill rate into higher training. Fewer trainees are opting to choose EM for higher specialty training due to concerns over the intensity and nature of the work, unsociable hours, working conditions and the sustainability of such a career to the age of 68.

The Emergency Medicine Taskforce was established by the Department of Health in September 2011. This is its interim report. The Taskforce in fulfilling its Terms of Reference has explored many aspects of medical education and training, which may be contributing to the problems that the specialty is currently facing. 

Fill rates, trainee numbers and deanery data has been collected, expert evidence and opinion has been sought to establish the key factors effecting Emergency Medicine. Using this data and evidence the Taskforce has developed a number of recommendations focusing on medical education, training and service provision in order to improve the recruitment and retention in the specialty.  

Download the interim report

Driving Improvements in A&E Services - The Foundation Trust Network ahve published a briefing document summarising the results of their A&E 2012 benchmarking study. Key messages include:

• The majority of trusts are losing money on their A&E services. Trusts are continuing toimprove their efficiency, but fundamental problems remain on the funding of A&E and emergency services
• The Department of Health should re-examine the policy of paying for some emergency admissions at 30% of the standard tariff
• Risks and responsibility for avoiding emergency admissions should bemore fairly shared between acute trusts and primary and community care
• Trusts with primary care or urgent care centres within their A&E departments have faster average treatment times. Trusts that use senior clinicians as part of a rapid assessment team have faster initial assessments for the most acute A&E patients
• There is no ‘one-size-fits all’ approach to staffing an effective A&E service; trusts can use their freedoms to innovate and develop different service models that meet local health needs
• Nearly half of all A&E attendances for older patients(75yrs+) end in admission. Multidisciplinary teams in A&E reduce admissions of elderlypatients, who receive nursing, occupational therapy and physio services in A&E before being discharged home rather than having an overnight stay.
• Trusts have reduced reattendance rates by providing comprehensive information and follow up advice when patients leave A&E
• More available out-of-hours primary and community services, particularly those covering mental health and addiction, would reduce frequent A&E attendances

http://www.foundationtrustnetwork.org/resource-library/ftn-benchmarking-aande-2012/briefing-benchmarking-a-e-181012-final-.pdf

Revalidation of licensed doctors begins Monday 3 December 2012 - It is expected that the majority of licensed Emergency Medicine doctors in the UK will have been revalidated by 2016. Revalidation aims to give patients and the public, as well as employers and other healthcare professionals, extra confidence that doctors are up to date and fit to practice. All licensed doctors will need to revalidate on a regular basis (usually every five years) in order to keep their licence to practise.

The College is working hard to provide members with information to assist Emergency Doctors in revalidation. We are in the final stages of testing a Revalidation Portfolio which will allow Members and Fellows to store information required by their Responsible Officer to make a revalidation recommendation to the GMC , as well as providing help and information. This resource will be available early in 2013.

To use the portfolio, all Members and Fellows must ensure that their personal information is correct on the CEM website. If it is not, they will not be able to register. Please login (bottom of the screen) and check or change your personal details, such as your employer, email or postal address.

A Revalidation Helpdesk is now available at the College. If you have any questions about revalidation please email them to revalidation@collemergencymed.ac.uk. A team of Specialty Advisers is on hand to answer non-standard queries, or provide tailored advice and information about revalidation in Emergency Medicine that may not be easily accessible elsewhere.

For general information about revalidation please go to the GMC website: http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/revalidation.asp

For specialty specific informaiton please visit the Revalidation section of the CEM website

NOVEMBER 2012

Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week starts 18 November 2012

Download a poster listing the events taking place next week to raise awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning

For other carbon monoxide awareness resources visit the external guidelines page

Details about support for victims of CO poisoning can be found at: http://www.covictim.org/

Winterwatch 2012 - Winterwatch brings you regular updates about: how the NHS is coping with the increased demands of the cold winter months, levels of flu-like illness and uptake of flu vaccination: http://winterwatch.dh.gov.uk/

Major trauma and the use of tranexamic acid in children - An evidence statement from the RCPCH states:

• Tranexamic acid reduces mortality in adult trauma
• Early administration is vital for efficacy
• Due to the lack of published data on the use of tranexamic acid in paediatric patients who have undergone major trauma there is no evidence for a specific dose in this situation
• The RCPCH and NPPG Medicines Committee recommend a pragmatic dosage schedule – 15mg/kg tranexamic acid loading dose (max 1g) over 10 minutes followed by 2mg/kg per hour

Download the full statement

Acute Bronchitis/ Bronchiolitis – Early Warning - The EDSSS, a joint public health surveillance project between CEM and the HPA has picked up that attendances for Acute Bronchitis/Bronchiolitis are currently increasing and if they haven't hit your department, they may do soon!These increases are
particularly noted in the 0-4 years age group. This EDSSS aims to provide early warning of large increases of transmissible disease through monitoring daily ED attendances across a range of syndromic indicators. This information may help front line clinicians with service planning.
Please send any feedback to syndromic.surveillance@hpa.org.uk

Get regular reports from the EDSSS

Safe Sedation of Adults in the Emergency Department - This document has been produced as a good practice document on sedation in the Emergency Department.  The document was produced by a working party which included members from the Royal College of Anaesthetists, the College of Emergency Medicine and other stakeholder groups.

MAY 2012

Reconfiguration of Emergency Care system services - 10 Key Principles (31May 2012) - This position statement by the College describes the principles that relevant stakeholders must consider when decisions regarding reconfiguration are being made. These will be especially relevant where stakeholders decide that part of reconfiguration will involve down grading or even closure of an Emergency Department.

Decreased Conscious Level for the management of children - RCPCH audit report (31 May 2012) - The RCPCH has published the findings from an 18-month multi-site clinical audit of the Management of a Child (aged 0-18 years) presenting with a decreased conscious level. Read the report here: http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/decon

Support for people who are distressed, are experiencing suicidal thoughts or who self-harm (29 May 2012) - The Royal College of Psychiatrists has produced an advice leaflet for patients presenting to EDs that are feeling suicidal or in distress. You can view the leaflet online and order copies from: http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/feelingontheedge.aspx 

NHS Innovation Challenge Prizes (28 May 2012) - this award scheme recognises and rewards ideas that tackle some of the most challenging areas of healthcare. Prizes are awarded for
achievement of specific challenges, ranging from significant improvements in delivery
through to major clinical breakthroughs. The rewards are substantial, including the added value in knowing that these innovations are making a real difference to patients and the NHS. Several of the challenges are relevant to Emergency Medicine - visit www.challengeprizes.institute.nhs.uk

Changes to ambulance response time categories (17 May 2012) - Changes to prioritise the most critically ill patients, increase the number of vehicles available to reach patients most in need and reduce the number of cancelled ambulances have been announced for England by the Department of Health: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/a8-measure/ 

Promoting the NHS Organ Donor Register with Facebook (16 May 2012) - Facebook has joined the drive for more organ donors by developing an initiative allowing users to state their intention to become an organ donor and share that choice with others via their profile timeline. NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the UK Organ Donation organisation is collaborating with Facebook UK so that in addition to allowing users to share their intentions with friends and family, those who have n ot yet officially joined the ODR can do so easily using NHSBTs Facebook registration page.

• Read more here
• http://www.facebook.com/organdonationuk

2012 CEM Research Grants (16 May 2012) - Applications are now invited for the 2012 CEM research grant application cycle. Consideration will be given to projects up to £10,000.00. Guidelines and application forms are available on the Research Grants page: https://secure.collemergencymed.ac.uk/Shop-Floor/Research/Research Grants

Hard copy applications must be received before 17:00 on Friday 27 July 2012.
Applications will be reviewed at the October meeting of the College’s Research and Publications Committee.

New standards set for emergency care of children and young people (3 May 2012) - Developed by the Intercollegiate Committee for Standards for Children and Young People in Emergency Care Settings, the revised edition of Standards for Children and Young People in Emergency Care Settings provides healthcare professionals, providers and service planners with measurable and auditable standards of care applicable to all urgent and emergency care settings in the UK.

The 2012 edition reflects changes in the way care is delivered: there is a new chapter focusing on mental health and substance misuse and the document takes a 'pathway' approach to aid a multi-professional workforce. Most importantly, this edition shifts from making recommendations to setting standards, giving healthcare professionals the guidance they need to provide the best service for children and young people along the care pathway.

http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/emergencycare

APRIL 2012

Launch of newsletter for EM trainees (30 Apr 2012) - EMTA has published the first of a hopefully quarterly newsletter aimed at keeping EM trainees updated on trainee related issues and the work of EMTA. See the EMTA news page

24/7 consultant-delivered care a ‘must’ for effective NHS, says new report from the RCPCH (30 April 2012) - Patients would receive far better care if they had access to a senior doctor (consultant) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, says a report published by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

The report, Consultant Delivered Care: An evaluation of new ways of working in paediatrics, shows that if consultant delivered care (CDC) models (face-to-face consultant-led care for children up to 24 hours a day requiring acute care) are implemented, it will improve quality of care, ensure good handovers and improve communication with patients and their families. http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/cdc

Information Sharing between EDs and CSPs to tackle violence (26 April 2012) - To determine the level of engagement in data sharing, the Department of Health is currently conducting an audit to see whether EDs are collecting and sharing data with local partners. Please help by completing this survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/dataevaluation2012nhs

The Combined Royal Colleges Medal 2012 - Call for nominations (20 April 2012) - the Combined Royal Colleges Medal is awarded for an outstanding contribution to photography and/or its application in the service of medicine and surgery. Any person of any nationality, whether a member of The Society or not, or organisation is entitled to submit work or to be nominated for the Award. The winner will be announced at an Awards ceremony to be held in London on 6 September 2012. See here for further details

HPA/CEM Emergency Department Syndromic Surveillance System - EDSSS (16 Apr 2012) - The Emergency Department Syndromic Surveillance System (EDSSS) is a new syndromic surveillance scheme which has been developed by the HPA in collaboration with the College of Emergency Medicine. This national sentinel surveillance system monitors daily emergency department (ED) attendances in England for key morbidities.

• See the latest bulletin here: http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1317133540747 
• Visit the Informatics section for more information about the project and how you can get involved.

Launch of the CEM Quality in Emergency care Dashboard (QED) (11 Apr 2012) - The College's Quality in Emergency care Dashboard (QED) project is being launched on Thurs 12^th April at midday on the ENLIGHTENme website at http://www.enlightenme.org/dashboard

This is an important strategic initiative for the College. The QED aims to collect data that is most relevant to the care we deliver in the ED so that it can be used for local benchmarking, appraisal (revalidation) and in discussions with commissioners. See here for more details

Essentials of Patient Safety (4 April 2011) - the second edition of Prof Charles Vincent's book Patient Safety was published in 2010.  He has now adapted some material from the book to produce  a short version which is free to use for any non-commercial purposes . We hope this may be helpful as an introduction for anyone interested in patient safety or for those teaching courses. http://www1.imperial.ac.uk/medicine/about/institutes/patientsafetyservicequality/cpssq_publications/

March 2012

Academy survey on less than full time working (28 Mar 2012) - Please take a few minutes to complete this survey designed to identify whether consultants, SAS doctors and trainees working less than full time (LTFT) are experiencing difficulties in working LTFT: if so how frequent are these difficulties, what type of difficulties are commonly encountered,  and how (or if) they are resolved. Many thanks https://www.rcpworkforce.com/se.ashx?s=253122AC3FC24E78 

NPSA releases latest Organisation Patient Safety Incident reporting data (England) (27 Mar 2012) - http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/organisationdata

CEM Simulation Faculty Course, 9^th July 2012, Bath - Are you delivering simulation training? Do you want to enhance the learning in your simulation sessions? Then this is the course for you. The focus is on maximising the education benefit of simulation training through effective debriefing. This course is principally run as small group workshops with loads of opportunities to practice debriefing. Download Flyer for details

Big variation in deaths and hospital admissions due to injury across England (26 Mar 2012) - The rates of people killed and admitted to hospital due to injury differs dramatically from one
local authority to another. These are the findings from the Injury Profiles, a new online data
tool launched today by the South West Public Health Observatory (SWPHO) on behalf of
Public Health Observatories in England. www.injuryprofiles.org.uk

Latest NPSA Rapid Response Reports and MHRA Medical Device Alerts (26 Mar 2012)

Latest Newsletter from National End of Life Care Programme (26 Mar 2012) - This issue highlights acute care issues. Download this edition. To subscribe, visit http://www.endoflifecareforadults.nhs.uk/ 

CEM Corporate Plan 2012-2015 (26 Mar 2012) - The College has published a strategic plan outlining aims and objectives for 2012-2015. We have produced it to share our objectives with our stakeholders. For our Members and Fellows it shows where our main priorities lie. Our other stakeholders such as patients, the public, Departments of Health and NHS organisations will also be interested in our priorities.

Information standard to close the communication gaps in end of life care (22 Mar 2012) - The End of Life Care Co-Ordination: Core Content Information Standard sets out and describes a core dataset of key information which is required to support the provision of safe and high quality care. http://www.endoflifecareforadults.nhs.uk/strategy/strategy/coordination-of-care/end-of-life-care-information-standard

Ultrasound training (22 Mar 2012) - Contact your regional ultrasound training co-ordinator and find out more at https://secure.collemergencymed.ac.uk/Training-Exams/Training/Ultrasound training

The route to success in end of life care - achieving quality in ambulance services (15 Mar 2012) - Ambulance services are a key player in end of life care team, NHS guide concludes
Ambulance services could support more people in achieving ‘a good death’ and reduce unnecessary or unwanted hospital admissions and treatment, according to the latest in a series of practical guides co-ordinated and published by the National End of Life Care Programme.  The guides aim to improve care for people nearing the end of life in a variety of settings while making best use of available resources. http://www.endoflifecareforadults.nhs.uk/publications/rts-ambulance

EM Operational Handbook (Way Ahead) - Highlights (14 Mar 2012)

Latest CEM e-Newsletter (9 Mar 2012) - Please note log-in is required to download

National Review of Asthma Deaths (9 Mar 2012) - For a 12-month period from 1 February 2012, every death from asthma in the UK will be reviewed systematically and will be subject to an in-depth multidisciplinary confidential enquiry. Click on the link to the left for an update or visit the RCP website to learn how to get involved: http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/national-review-asthma-deaths

Get ready for Revalidation! (8 Mar 2012) - Revalidation is imminent; see our checklist of supporting information for apprasial and preparation so you can be ready.

Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety (8 Mar 2012) - New guidance from the GMC makes clear that doctors have a duty to act when they believe patient safety is at risk, or when a patient’s care or dignity is being compromised. The guidance explains when doctors need to raise concerns and advises on the help and support available to them, including how to tackle any barriers that they may face. http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/raising_concerns.asp

Leadership and management for all doctors (8 Mar 2012) - New guidance from the GMC aimed at helping doctors understand their responsibilities in relation to employment issues; teaching and training; as well as planning, using and managing resources.

New website launched for doctors with health concerns (8 Mar 2012) - The General Medical Council is launching Your Health Matters, a new website for doctors who may be concerned about their own health or that of a colleague. The website provides case studies showing doctors with a range of health concerns, a testimonial from a doctor who has gone through fitness to practise procedures, and a range of advice on the process.

Your Health Matters also provides detailed information about what happens to doctors who are referred to the GMC where the concerns relate to their health.

For more information, go to www.gmc-uk.org/doctorshealth

The Benefits of Consultant Delivered Care (8 Mar 2012) - The most comprehensive and focused review into the benefits to patients of consultant delivered medical care has been published by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AOMRC).

NHS Medical Director's Clinical Fellow Scheme (8 Mar 2012) - this scheme gives junior doctors the opportunity to spend time in a dedicated out-of-programme experience to develop their skills in leadership, management and health policy.  Participating doctors work within a host organisation in roles that typically include policy work, analysis, strategy and project management. Applications for the 2012-13 intake are now open. Closing date for applications: 5pm, 22 March 2012. For more information and application packs go to: http://www.fmlm.ac.uk/clinical-fellow-scheme

NHS Innovation Challenge Prizes (6 Mar 2012) The latest round is now open for entries.  The list of challenges includes:
 
•         Emergency Care – right place, first time
•         Reducing avoidable use of Primary Care
•         Improved Diagnostic Investigation
•         Reducing Falls and Falls Injuries
 
As you know the recent Chief Executive’s report ‘Innovation Health and Wealth’ – increased its commitment to the NHS Innovation Challenge Prizes as part of a wider effort to encourage better spread and diffusion of innovation and new ideas.
 
Applications will be received up until the 1^st June and details can be found at:   www.challengeprizes.institute.nhs.uk

Notice about College EGM to discuss the Health and Social Care Bill (5 March 2012) Login to view document

Crowding in the Emergency Department (2 Mar 2012) - The College has published this best practice guideline to assist managers and clinicians who are trying to reduce crowding in their hospital Emergency Departments. The guideline explains the causes and consequences of crowding. This guideline offers suggestions to reduce the effects of crowding and improve the safety of an Emergency Department.  CEM clinical guidelines

Payments by Results 2012/13 (1 Mar 2012) - The final 2012-13 Payments by Results package has been published by the Department of Health in England. This comes into effect from 1^st April 2012. There are five Emergency care tariffs for services delivered in EDs and minor injury units (MIUs), spread over 11 HRG classifications based on investigation and treatment. In addition, best practice tariffs have been introduced for a number of emergency clinical scenarios. The aim is to promote management of these scenarios on a same day basis in an ambulatory emergency care manner. See Casemix - how your ED is paid for a summary and link to full details

February 2012

Job vacancy - Membership and Finance Administrator (G4) (29 Feb 2012)

Latest issue of NPSA Signals (28 Feb 2012) - Emerging issues from national review of serious patient safety incidents

Doctors needed! Help test assessment tools (27 Feb 2012) - The Academic Centre for Medical Education at UCL is working with the GMC to review Fitness to Practise procedures and update the assessments to ensure each assessment is fair to the doctor being assessed.

To do this, they are holding validation events for new assessment material and are looking for interested and fully registered doctors to participate. The day will involve taking a written test of knowledge and a 12 station OSCE and will last from 10:00am – 4:30pm at the Clinical Assessment Centre, Archway. To be eligible, you must be FY2 to Consultant level, and have worked in the specialty for at least four months within the last year. Volunteers can only take this test once for each specialty. Download the flyer to see dates

All volunteers will receive feedback about their own performance. The day provides valuable insight into how the GMC assesses referred doctors and is also excellent examination practice for those about to do postgraduate exams. Participants will receive an honorarium of £350 plus (standard class) travel expenses and lunch. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/dome/gmc/pilot_information

Opportunities with the Judicial Appointments Commission (8 Feb 2012) - In February, the commission will have some positions for medical members and are looking to recruit those who are medically qualified and registered with the GMC.

This is an opportunity to use their medical knowledge and experience to consider evidence and, together with the judge, decide appeals against decisions of the Department for Work and Pensions relating to Employment and Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance. The role involves enabling all parties, some of whom are among the most vulnerable in society, to have a fair hearing. Visit http://jac.judiciary.gov.uk/selection-process/selection-exercises/forthcoming/1649.htm for more information.

BMA 2012 Research Grants (8 Feb 2012) - Applications are invited from medical practitioners and/or research scientists and are for either research in progress or prospective research.

The 2012 research grants are now to apply for online on the BMA website. The application deadline is 16 March 2012 at 5pm.

Subject specifications for each grant vary. For example, in 2012, research areas range from rheumatism and arthritis, cardiovascular disease and cancer to the uptake of preventative measures and the use of information and communication technologies in medicine.

For more information on the grants on offer in 2012 and details of how to apply, please see: www.bma.org.uk/researchgrants

JANUARY 2012

Time for work for the benefit of the wider NHS (23 Jan 2012) - a copy of the letter to all NHS organisations from the four CMOs, Sir Bruce Keogh and the GMC asking employers to look favourably on requests from doctors for absence to undertake national work of benefit to healthcare systems across the UK.The letter helpfully specifically refers to work for Royal Colleges.

ICEM Conference in Dublin, 27-30 June - Registration and abstract submission is open (9 Jan 2012)

New Year Appeal towards fitting out of 7-9 Bream’s Buildings (5 Jan 2012)

View the programme and register: