BMA Scotland newsletter
February 2007
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the first edition of the BMA Scotland newsletter for 2007. Last year was spent laying the groundwork for Delivering for Health so now, the focus for 2007 should be to implement many of the proposals contained in it. It is vital that as we near the 2007 Scottish Parliament elections, political parties do not deconstruct the various parts of the strategy, picking and choosing elements upon which they campaign for or against, including hospital closures and service reorganisation. It is a package and to break it apart would be to return to the old problems that have dogged the NHS for too long.
It is essential that politicians don’t become complacent about public health following the smoking ban. One in 30 deaths in Scotland are caused by alcohol misuse, one in five mothers still smoke when pregnant, one in three children is overweight and health inequalities continue to create life expectancy gaps of nearly 10 years between the most affluent and most deprived areas of Scotland.
The agenda for our politicians has never been so important. There are many priorities for health in Scotland and I hope that whichever party leads the Scottish Executive after the May election keeps health high on the agenda and at the heart of decision making. I would also encourage BMA members to engage with local politicians and promote our manifesto. You can download the newsletter in PDF format by clicking on the pdf icon on the right.
Dr Peter Terry
Chairman of BMA Scotland
- Review of distinction awards and discretionary points schemes
- SAS contract negotiations
- Scottish Parliament Elections
- National hand washing campaign
- MMC update
- ARM 2007
- Cooksey
- Prostate Scotland
- Health Board Election Bill
- Community hospital
- Improved morale, better for patients
- Dr Stephen Hadfield
- Gambling
- Electronic GP pilot
- MOD mental health programme for reservists
- Violence against healhcare workers
- Hepatitis C
- Nutrition
- Events
In January, the Scottish Consultants Committee (SCC) and the Scottish Medical Academic Staff Committee (SMASC) gave written and oral evidence to the body reviewing the distinction awards and discretionary points schemes. The NHSScotland employers’ Management Steering Group gave evidence at a meeting later that month and the universities and Royal Colleges are also due to give evidence.
The review aims to achieve significant reform both n the operation of the schemes and in the philosophy which underpins them. It is hoped that the review body will conclude its deliberations on the development f a new scheme by Spring/early Summer 2007, although the timetable of the review has already begun o slip. Further delay is possible which would affect any forthcoming consultation and negotiation on a proposed scheme.
SAS contract negotiations
In November 2006, the SASC (UK) negotiating team reached an agreement with NHS Employers on proposals for a new contract for staff and associate specialists (SAS). The proposals were submitted to the four UK health ministers for approval and to the Public Sector Pay Committee for scrutiny. Delays beyond the control of the SASC (UK) team have meant that these proposals have still to be formally approved.
The BMA has been planning a programme of roadshows across the UK to give SAS doctors as much information as possible before the eventual ballot. The delay to securing formal approval for the proposals has meant that these roadshows have been postponed. In the meantime, dates are currently being re-scheduled and details will be made available shortly, although it is still expected that events will take place in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. A webcast will be made of one of the roadshows which will be available for viewing on the BMA website.
Once the roadshows have taken place, all SAS doctors will be balloted on the new contract. More information will be posted as soon as it becomes available. All SAS doctors are encouraged to regularly check the website for updates.
Scottish Elections
BMA health hustings
On the 20 March, BMA Scotland is hosting a hustings at its offices in Edinburgh. This event will provide a forum for representatives from each of the main political parties to debate their health policies with a medical audience. The event, chaired by Dr Peter Terry, takes place on Tuesday 20 March 2007 from 5.30-7.30pm at 14 Queen Street. Doctors interested in attending should call 0131 247 3050 or email. Seats are limited and tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis.
BMA Guidance – The Scottish Parliament elections, the BMA and political neutrality
The BMA Scotland public affairs office has published new guidance on the laws regarding political neutrality that apply to the BMA in the four months prior to a Scottish Parliament election. This includes advice on making public statements and applies from 3 January 2007. It is available online.
Priorities for health
BMA Scotland’s election manifesto, published late last year, is based on the findings of a survey of members and focuses on three main areas: Public Health; NHS Reform and Medical Workforce. This is available online.
Get involved!
The BMA is keen to promote local debate on health policy between its members and candidates standing for election. If you are interested in hosting a local meeting for election candidates in your area, the BMA’s Scottish Public Affairs Office would be happy to offer advice and support to help you organise such an event.
National hand washing campaign
BMA Scotland recently welcomed the Scottish Executive’s national awareness campaign on hand hygiene. Dr Charles Saunders, Chair of BMA Scotland’s Public Health Committee said: “Scotland leads the UK in the fight against hospital acquired infections (HAIs), but we must not become complacent. Careful and consistent hand washing in hospitals and other settings by healthcare workers, visitors and patients remains the single most effective way of helping to avoid HAIs.” The campaign includes television adverts, motion-sensored talking posters in public toilets and prompts for customers using cash machines. More information on the campaign is available online.
MMC
Specialty training programmes in Scotland
On 5 February, applications to specialty and GP training programmes closed on the MTAS website. Dates for the next stages of the recruitment process are detailed in the timetable below.
The Scottish Junior Doctors Committee (SJDC) is aware that some applicants had problems with the MTAS website and raised these issues directly with the Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD). Many were fixed promptly but SJDC will continue to raise any problems as they arise. If you have any queries regarding an application, a comprehensive contact list of organisations that can provide answers can be found online. To keep up to date, SJDC advises all junior doctors to regularly check the MMCScotland website and ensure that they are signed up to receive email alerts via DOTS, as new information is published regularly.
Number of training opportunities
The number of training opportunities available across Scotland for run-through training and FTSTAs is available online. In addition to specialty training opportunities at ST1, 2, 3 entry levels (and a few in some specialties at ST4), Scotland is also offering a range of Fixed Term Specialty Training Appointments at ST1, 2 and 3 entry levels. There are no FTSTAs available at ST4. The MMC website also contains person specifications for each level of each specialty. These can be found online.
FTSTAs
Information on recruitment to Fixed Term Specialist Training appointments in Scotland can be found online. If you remain unclear about this process, please contact the MMCScotland Team. Email.
Unit of application
Scotland is one Unit of Application but contains five Scottish Sectors – All Scotland, North (Aberdeen), East (Dundee), South East (Edinburgh) and West (Glasgow). Details on how the sectors system will work in Scotland can be found online.
Specialty training interviews in Scotland
The timetable for specialty training interviews in Scotland has been published and is available online. It is updated as soon as information is received from the Specialty Transitional Boards on dates and venues for interviews. Applicants are advised to check it on a regular basis.
Applicants guide
The Scottish version of the Applicant’s Guide to Recruitment and Selection into Specialty Registrar Training 2007 is available online.
Assurances from the CMO
Last year, the Scottish Consultants Committee wrote to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) raising concerns regarding service provision during the interview period. The CMO provided the following assurances:
- The interview schedule seeks to spread interviews sensibly
- Boards are encouraged to work with the local consultant body to ensure that interviewer release is enabled by appropriate planning
- Interviews for most specialties will be spread out over several days, so it will be possible for interviewees to spread their interviews out, enabling service to be sustained and for them to attend interviews
- There should be no blanket bans by employers on annual leave and study leave in place, however, a balance should be struck between the need to support interviews, service delivery and other activities.
In Scotland, unlike England and Wales, academic training opportunities in all specialties (including general practice) will be handled as a separate process outside the MTAS national recruitment and selection process and timetable.
Recruitment will be to NES Medical Clinical Lectureships (broadly equivalent to the Academic Clinical fellowships in England and Wales). These are university appointments and will be made jointly with the NHS locally and the relevant Scottish university and deanery. Applications for NES Clinical Lectureships will not be restricted to doctors with a national training number (NTN), but all doctors appointed to a lectureship will be required to hold an NTN. Further information is available online.
GP recruitment
GP applicants invited to an assessment centre will be required to complete written tests consisting of a clinical problem solving paper and a professional dilemma paper. Details on the tests and the GP assessment process can be found online.
Specialty training and GP training curriculum split
In December, the Scottish Executive announced that there will be more than 2000 specialty training opportunities in Scotland and that the new GP training curriculum has been agreed. Trainees will spend 18 months in hospital specialties and 18 months in GP practices from August 2008, although there may be pilots before this date. The Executive also announced it would provide funding for an additional 150 posts.
OMFS: entry criteria update
The Committee of Postgraduate Medical Education Deans (COPMED) agreed that applicants for ST1 oral & maxillofacial surgical posts will be eligible to apply for ST1 if they:
- Meet the ST1 person specification
- Have dual qualification in medicine/dentistry
- Have previous experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery in the capacity of SHO/Staff Grade/Clinical Fellow for 12 months
- Will have completed F1 and registered by August 2007
- Can provide evidence that they have the F2 competences
ARM 2007 seats for doctors in Scotland
Do you want to attend this year’s Annual Representative Meeting ARM in Torquay but can't get a divisional seat? Don’t give up… Under changes agreed at the 2005 ARM, Scottish Council is now able to appoint representatives to take up ARM seats from Scotland which remain unallocated following the divisional election process. If you are a BMA member keen to attend this year’s ARM but are unable to obtain a seat via your division, register your interest with the BMA’s UK Council secretariat on 020 7383 6148 or email by 22 March at the latest. Scottish Council will then draw on the list of interested members when deciding how to allocate spare seats.
ARM 2007 motion deadline 5 March
Each year, Scottish Council submits motions to the Joint Agenda Committee for inclusion in the ARM or branch of practice committee agendas. Scottish Council welcomes proposed motions from any BMA member in Scotland and will consider which motions to send to the Joint Agenda Committee for the 2007 ARM at its meeting on 21 March. If you wish to put forward a motion via this route please email by 5 March at the latest.
Cooksey report
On 6 December 2006, Sir David Cooksey published a review of the institutional arrangements for the public funding of health research in the UK. The key elements of the report are to:
- Establish an office of strategic coordination of health research to act as a central coordinating body for health research (with devolved nation input).
- Retain MRC existing institutional structures.
- Make the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) a “real” agency of the Department of Health rather than virtual
- Create a joint MRC/NIHR Translational Medicine Funding Board.
- Retain current funding for basic research, with future increases in funding being weighted towards translational and applied research.
- Improve communication between government, regulators and industry around UK health priorities. The full report is available online. Read it here.
In his pre-budget speech on 6 December 2006, the Chancellor announced that he and the Secretaries of State for Health and Trade and Industry accepted these recommendations and confirmed that the government will merge research budgets for the NHS and the Medical Research Council, creating a single fund for the UK of over £1 billion a year. The BMA welcomed the drive to co-ordinate research funding, but highlighted that the combined value of medical research funding for 2007-8 was originally expected to be £1.3 billion and raised concern at the apparent £300 million funding cut. The Scottish Medical Academic Committee (SMASC) is liaising with the Chief Scientist Office regarding the implications of the report for research in Scotland.
Prostate Scotland
Prostate Scotland is a recently established organisation that aims to improve public awareness on prostate disease in Scotland. This comes at a time when incidence rates of prostate cancer are increasing significantly yet awareness is very low. Through public awareness campaigns and information provision, Prostate Scotland aims to:
- Generate significant uptake on men’s health services from general enquiries to GP appointments and men’s health checks
- Help expand patient support networks
- Be at the forefront of lobbying for improved investment into research, care standards and treatment developments.
Health Board Elections (Scotland) Bill
Proposals to introduce direct elections to Health Boards in Scotland were dropped last month following a closely fought debate in the Scottish Parliament. The proposals, introduced by backbench Labour MSP Bill Butler, won the support of the SNP, Socialists and Conservatives and had received backing from the Parliamentary Health Committee. However despite this, the vote (55 for, 64 against) means that the Bill will not proceed any further.
During the debate, Health Minister, Andy Kerr announced that he would introduce pilot schemes to improve the democratic representation at a Health Board level, although no details were provided. The BMA lobbied against this Bill and said that the outcome of the debate was a vote for “common sense” and that it was now important to look at real ways that Health Boards could improve public engagement.
Community hospital strategy
In December, the Scottish Executive Health Department released a new Community Hospital strategy, Developing Community Hospitals: A Strategy for Scotland. The document provides a blueprint for the reorganisation of community hospitals and their services in line with Delivering for Health. The strategy sets out 17 recommendations covering the provision of new services such as diagnostics, day surgery and minor injury units, workforce planning, staff training, developing IT and new technology. A copy is available online.
Improved morale means better patient care
In December, the Scottish Executive published a report which revealed an improvement in doctors’ job satisfaction over the last five years. Dr Peter Terry, chairman of the BMA in Scotland said: “Improved job satisfaction is good for doctors but more importantly it’s good for patients. When morale is high, patient care improves.
Five years ago, consultants and GPs were working under outdated contracts that didn’t reflect the realities of delivering 21st Century medicine. “It is telling that Staff and Associate Specialists, who are still working under an old contract, are least satisfied and we must do all we can to ensure that a new contract recognises and rewards their commitment to the NHS. We welcome the study’s recommendation that this should be a priority.” Email for a copy of the report.
Dr Stephen Hadfield
Dr Stephen Hadfield died on 5 February 2007 at the age of 98. He was a respected doctor who was dedicated to medicine and the BMA. Dr Hadfield was Scottish Secretary of the BMA from 1964 to 1973 and worked at the BMA in London from 1948 to 1964. He headed a review committee on general practice and had articles published in the BMJ. The BMA passes on its condolences to Dr Hadfield's family and remembers his hard work and commitment to the organisation. His funeral is at 1pm on Monday 12 February at St John's Cathedral, Oban.
Gambling
Last month, the BMA's Board of Science published a report, Gambling addiction and its treatment within the NHS. The report includes proposals aimed to help healthcare professionals deal effectively with the growing problem of gambling addiction in the UK. With the 2005 Gambling Act due to come into force this September, gambling facilities will increase and, subsequently, problem gambling may rise too. The full report is available online.
Electronic GP factual reports pilot
A number of GPs in Scotland are taking part in a new scheme to speed up benefit payments. The electronic GP Factual Reports (eGPFR) pilot allows GPs to send information relating to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) claims electronically. With assistance from BMA Scotland, the Department for Work and Pensions has signed up 344 GPs in 94 practices from Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Lothian and Forth Valley to take part in the 'proof of concept' project that will run for an initial 3 months and, if successful, continue for a further three months.
MOD mental health programme for reservists
The Ministry of Defence has established a programme for recently demobilised reservists with mental health problems associated with operational deployment. The Reservist Mental Health Programme (RMHP) offers assessment and, where appropriate, outpatient treatment by Defence Medical Staff personnel and is available to current and former members of the Reserve Services who have been demobilised since January 2003 following overseas operational deployment as a Reservist. Referral to the programme will be primarily via an individual’s GP. For more information, including advice on eligibility, referral, assessment and treatment, call 0800 0326 258 or go to the website.
RCN and BMA Scotland deliver strong message against violence to the Scottish Parliament
BMA Scotland and the Royal College of Nursing recently joined forces to highlight that all healthcare workers have the right to work without the fear of abuse or violence. In December, the two organisations sent Christmas cards to all MSPs calling for a violence-free 2007 and held a parliamentary briefing for MSPs in January to highlight the problem. Many incidents go unreported as many healthcare workers accept abuse and violence as part of their job. RCN Scotland and BMA Scotland are therefore calling for increased protection for healthcare staff from violence and aggression as well as better support when incidents do occur.
A recent BMA Scotland survey revealed that one in three doctors experienced physical or verbal abuse at work in the last year. For more information, the BMA Scotland briefing on violence is available online.
HEP C campaign
An information campaign to tackle the stigma of Hepatitis C and improve knowledge about the virus has been launched by the Scottish Executive. At least 16,000 health and non-health professionals, including GPs, NHS managers, Hepatitis C nurses, drug support workers and social workers, across the country are being targeted to ensure people and their families affected by the virus receive the best care and support available. More information on testing, referral and treatment is available online.
Nutrition
In November, an Audit Scotland report on catering for patients in hospital identified a need for routine screening for under-nutrition of patients on admission to hospital and for all NHS Boards to have systems for ensuring the nutritional balance of patient meals. In its recently published election manifesto, Priorities for Health, the BMA in Scotland called for mandatory standards for all meals provided by the public sector, including hospital meals. The Audit Scotland report Caring for Patients is available online.
Events
Employment law workshops for GPs and practice managers
BMA Scotland is holding a programme of eight employment law workshops that provide a guide to the money side of practice and a review of specific issues in current employment practice. The workshops are for GPs and practice managers and are open to BMA members and non members. All workshops are EPASS accredited.
1. Contract of Employment
An update on employment law covering implied terms, custom and practice, written statement, BMA model contract, changing the contract, new legislation and case law. Includes practical exercises.
Edinburgh – Tuesday 13 March
2. Managing Sickness Absence
Identifying absenteeism, stress-related illness, medical reports, implications of the Disability Discrimination Act, absence justifying dismissal.
Edinburgh – Friday 16 March
Lanarkshire – Friday 30 March
Inverness – Tuesday 17 April
3. Discrimination Issues
New Age Discrimination legislation, an update on discrimination issues including sex and disability, direct and indirect discrimination, vicarious liability. Includes practical exercises.
Lanarkshire – Monday 19 March
Edinburgh – Tuesday 27 March
Inverness – Wednesday 18 April
4. Disciplinary Procedures
Managing conduct and performance, gross misconduct, unfair dismissal, employment tribunals, the rules on disciplinary and grievance procedures. Includes practical exercises.
Lanarkshire – Tuesday 20 March
Edinburgh – Thursday 22 March
Inverness – Tuesday 1 May
5. Conducting Disciplinary and Grievance Hearings
Statutory requirements, arranging hearings, who should be present, representation rights, difficult issues, keeping records. Includes practical exercises on conducting an interview.
Lanarkshire – Wednesday 21 March
Edinburgh – Friday 23 March
Inverness – Wednesday 2 May
6. Bullying, Harassment and Performance Issues
The employer’s responsibility for dealing with conflict among staff, bullying and harassment, poor performance, difficult members of staff.
Edinburgh – Wednesday 28 March
Lanarkshire – Thursday 29 March
7. Partnership Law for General Practice
The Partnership Act, joint liabilities, key issues, financial arrangements, property issues, sale of goodwill, issues arising from the Board contract. Includes a practical exercise on constructing an agreement.
Edinburgh – Wednesday 4 April
8. The Business of General Practice - Maximising Income
The nGMS pay system, outside work, model accounts, expenses, premises, superannuation, tax, and maximising income, the financial aspects of partnerships and staff employment. Includes practical exercises.
Edinburgh – Thursday 12 April
Cost
BMA members or Practice Manager of a BMA member
1-day workshop: £100 + VAT (£17.50) = £117.50
Non Members
1-day workshop: £200 + VAT (£35) = £235
Time
All workshops run from 9.30am – 4.30pm
Venues
Edinburgh BMA Scotland Office, 14 Queen Street.
Lanarkshire – Hilton Hotel Bellshill.
Inverness – Centre for Health Science, Raigmore Hospital.
To register
Email to request a registration form.
20% discount if three or more are booked.
Review of employment law seminars
BMA Scotland’s Regional Services have run employment law seminars for some years and we are currently reviewing this programme and looking for feedback from GPs and practice managers. Delegates have indicated that they would like advanced courses on issues such as disciplinary and grievance procedures, absence management, discrimination and redundancy.
It has also been proposed that a modular programme could be produced to give practice managers a wider range of skills in dealing with all aspects of employment law and HR management within the practice setting. If you, or your practice manager, have any views, or if you would like to register interest in participating in a more formal modular course from 2008 onwards, please email.
Acute medicine – conference in Glasgow
The Society for Acute Medicine is holding its 1st International Conference for Acute Medicine on 1 and 2 October 2007 at the SECC in Glasgow. More details on the programme and how to register are available online.
BMJ Masterclass
BMJ Masterclasses provide the opportunity to learn the latest evidence based research, best practice, recent advances, current issues from leading experts, as well as the chance to interact and network with the experts and your peers:
Specialist topics
BMJ Masterclass in Respiratory Medicine
Monday 29 January 2007, Royal College of Physicians, London
Thursday 8 March 2007, University of Manchester Conference Centre,Manchester
See the programme online here.
BMJ Masterclass in Cardiology
Tuesday 30 January 2007, Royal College of Physicians, London
Friday 9 March 2007, Renaissance Hotel, Manchester
See the programme online here.
BMJ Masterclass in Geriatric Medicine
9 May 2007, Goodenough College, London
15 June 2007, University of Manchester Conference Centre, Manchester
See the programme online here.
BMJ Masterclass for GPs: General Update
Monday 22 January 2007, Mermaid Conference Centre, London
Wednesday 28 February 2007, Radisson SAS Hotel, Glasgow
Friday 8 June 2007, ICC, Birmingham
See the programme online here.
BMJ Masterclass for GPs: Paediatrics and Womens Health
6 February 2007, New Connaught Rooms, London
1 May 2007, University of Manchester Conference Centre, Manchester
See the programme online here.
BMJMasterclassforGPs: RespiratoryMedicine
16March2007, New Connaught Rooms, London
2 May 2007, University of Manchester Conference Centre, Manchester
See the programme online here.
Prostatic paradigms for the 21st Century
Friday 16 March 2007, Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh
Prostate Scotland is holding a joint conference on prostatic disease with the Royal Society of Medicine and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh on 16 March 2007. The meeting:• Discusses the current state of research into prostate cancer generally with specific insights from Scotland• Reviews current treatments for prostate cancer available in Scotland giving both patient and clinician perspectives• Looks at how latest technologies may impact treatment of, and research into, prostate cancer and how this may influence the shape of service delivery in the short, medium and long-term. For details on how to register email. For more information on Prostate Scotland see page 5.
With BMJ Learning you can:
- Assess your learning needs
- Plan and record your learning on the site
- Choose from the most up to date, high quality, BMJ clinical and non clinical learning modules covering the management and treatment of: Anxiety and depression, smoking cessation, chronic kidney disease, chest pain and much more.
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