You may be wondering, what with all the good news I’ve been
reading recently, why I don’t just pack it in, get on with life and ‘move on’?
Well, I’ll believe it when I see it. How many consultants are
actually working at the A and E?
Let’s take a look at the figures, starting with this ‘freedom
of information’ request answer given by Ashford and St Peter’s in November 2012,
which I have edited for reasons of space;
FOI Request 2825 - A&E
Physicians
Written by FOI Lead
Case Number 2825
Request Date 26/09/2012
Completion Date 22/11/2012
Details of the Response
How many a) Consultant Emergency
Physicians are employed at your A&E Department •6 .4 wte ( 7 headcount) as
at today
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How many vacancies for a) Consultant
Emergency Physicians were there in your A&E department on 01/04/12 and how
many are there today •3 wte as at 01/04/12
1 as at today
------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the most recent time you
advertised vacancies for a) Consultant Emergency Physicians and b) Trainee
Consultant Emergency Physicians, how many vacancies were advertised and how
many appropriately qualified doctors applied for the positions •2 vacancies
were advertised on same advert in BMJ and NHS Jobs
3 appropriately qualified doctors applied for
the positions
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
How many locums have you hired in
order to fill vacant Emergency Physician positions in A&E over the past
year, and what percentage of posts are currently filled by Locums. •5.4 wte
Emergency Consultants positions filled substantively.
1.0 wte Emergency Consultant position filled
substantively as Locum fixed term.
0% Agency Locums for Emergency Consultant
cover.
Now, having a closer look at this answer doesn’t give me an
answer I can trust.
They are saying that as at 22/11/12, there were 7 A and E
consultants, working 6.4 wte (whole time equivalent), meaning that there is
part-time working (nothing wrong with that).
Then, there is one vacancy being advertised which would have taken
it to 8 consultants with a wte of 7.4, except that’s unlikely. Of these
consultants, one was a contract locum. So, it’s more likely that when the
vacancy was eventually filled, this would be timed to coincide with the locum
contract ending, leaving it at 7 consultants with a wte of 6.4.
That all sounds fine, except I don’t trust the figures – I
spoke to ‘a reliable source,’ one week after this answer was given and s/he
told me there were only FOUR consultants at the A and E.
WHO DO I BELIEVE? I believe my source (s/he was in a position
to know).
At the most charitable I would say that the hospital had
chosen a particular moment, to show itself off in the best possible light. At
worst…..
Why do I believe what I was told?
A look at the Hospital’s own website shows;
|
Mr Vijay GAUTAM
GMC: 3518285 |
Emergency Medicine
Minor Surgery Musculoskeletal Injury Wounds Ultrasound Sports Medicine |
|
|
Mr Kranti KUMAR
GMC: 2518002 |
Emergency Medicine,
Soft Tissue Injuries |
SPH
Wed pm - Soft Tissue Injuries |
|
Mr Vincent O’NEILL
GMC: 2750149 |
Emergency Medicine;
Minor surgery; Major trauma – Advanced Trauma Life Support Instructor (ATLS) |
SPH
Thurs am - Minor Surgery Clinic |
|
Dr Helen Cannon
|
Emergency Medicine,
MRCP ATLS Instructor |
Now take a look at the ‘Dr Foster’ Consultants guide;
Consultants at St Peter's Hospital
Accident and Emergency medicine
That’s right now, not in November last year and adds up to
SIX, and I trust the mighty Dr Foster organisation. I should add that NONE of
the above six fine Doctors were responsible for my ankle either.
Of course, the locum may still be there which would give 7 –
but either way, 6 or 7, it doesn’t add up to 10 yet.
Sooooooo, I’m still a waitin’ an’ a watchin’ and I’ll be
keeping one big fat
N
on y’all.
Then, and only when it’s all sorted out, I might shut up and
go away.
UGIMME
10 !
Neil Harris
(a don’t stop till you drop production)
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