With the August changeover for doctor’s rotas happening on 7 August, the RCSEd Trainee’s Committee has been looking at how working conditions can be improved across the NHS. Mr David Riding, Trainee’s Representative Member of Council said:
‘The August changeover can be a stressful time for trainee surgeons in new posts, as they quickly try to assimilate into new teams in unfamiliar surroundings. Hospitals have a duty of care, not only to their patients but also to their staff, and every effort should be made to develop working systems that minimise the risk to individual trainees and their patients.
The RCSEd Trainees’ Committee has been investigating the experiences of trainee surgeons across the UK, and our forthcoming report will confirm that there is still much work to be done to improve working conditions. It's easier for trainees to integrate into their roles if they have the necessary IT access, rotas, ID badges and swipe card access to do their job. Those trainees returning from time out of programme or from parental leave can experience prolonged periods of incorrect pay which can affect life outside the hospital. Mitigation of these difficulties minimises the pressure on trainee surgeons and helps them to do what they do best: provide world class surgical care for patients and their families.’
Miss Anna Paisley Consultant General and Upper GI Surgeon and Chair of RCSEd Patient Safety Group also said:
'We at RCSEd are very supportive of the extensive effort by senior doctors and hospitals to ensure patient safety by comprehensive induction, facilitating safe handover and providing mentorship and support to junior colleagues as newly qualified doctors join the workforce and trainees rotate between jobs.'
If you would like to get in touch with the Trainees' Committee please email traineescommittee@rcsed.ac.uk.