The Western Trust has acknowledged that while there is a heavy reliance on locum doctors across the health service it faces particular recruitment challenges as a peripheral health authority. A spokesperson said: “The Western Trust experiences particular challenges recruiting medical staff due to its geographical location. These unique challenges result in agency and locum medical staff having to be used to maintain services. “The Western Trust spent approximately £17.3m on agency and locum doctors across its hospitals and community services in 2017/18. “The Western Trust has engaged in an international recruitment campaign for the past four years to address this shortage and to date has recruited approximately over 90 doctors through this campaign into the NHS."We also use an electronic app within the Trust to encourage Trust doctors to fill vacant locum slots to ease the burden on agency spend. This also contributes to the safe and effective continuity of care … [Read more...] about Western Trust: Locum dependence due to geographical recruitment challenges
Challenges facing doctors
Perthshire doctor calls for action on GP shortage
A Perthshire doctor and union leader has called on the Scottish Government and the nation’s health boards to help improve the number of GPs. Dr Andrew Buist, a GP from Blairgowrie and chair of the Scottish General Practitioners Committee (SGPC), believes more needs to be done to help local practices after reflecting on the impact of the new Scottish GP contract. The three-year contract was signed between BMA Scotland and the Scottish Government in spring 2018 and aims to help improve recruitment and retention of GPs, as well as reduce workload and bureaucracy, and create a new form of primary care within practices. However, Dr Buist, who works at Ardblair Medical Centre, claims the “pace of change must increase” over the next two years. He said: “As we mark the one-year anniversary of the Scottish GP contract, it is worth reflecting on the huge challenges that faced us when we signed the contract. “Of course, these deep-seated problems – such as … [Read more...] about Perthshire doctor calls for action on GP shortage
Paul Martin opens up about facing ‘almightly challenge’ from rare blood cancer
Showbiz journalist Paul Martin has spoken frankly about the “almighty challenge” he faces having been diagnosed with rare blood cancer. The 41-year-old father of three was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma on Thursday and having informed his family and friends over the weekend, he penned a heartfelt blog about the life-changing experience which he published on Sunday evening. In his blog ‘Journey of a journo’ he wrote: “2019 started with a turgid battle in hospital with an auto immune problem that brought a crippling case of pneumonia to my door.“The recovery was epic and after putting on three stones I’ve been hitting the gym, running and having the greatest times with my children who have never been closer to me.“‘We’ve noticed a shadow that’s got bigger. Probably nothing to worry about but we need to run further tests’ said the anonymous voice at the end of the phone who had called from the quite magnificent … [Read more...] about Paul Martin opens up about facing ‘almightly challenge’ from rare blood cancer
Playboy bunny faces jail after boozy rampage where she bit a police officer and kicked another
A PLAYBOY bunny is facing jail after biting a cop and kicking another. Siobhan Tedder, 26, went berserk at the two police officers outside her home after calling them to report being assaulted, a court heard. She sank her teeth into the arm of one of the pair and booting the other in the shin. Tedder, who works at the Playboy Club London in Mayfair, was said to have been “heavily intoxicated” and at one point tried to throw a table at them. She was screaming when PC Tom Burch and Special Constable James Murphy arrived, Westminster magistrates heard. PC Burch said: “She grabbed the communal hall table and tried to throw it.” Tedder was arrested for being drunk and disorderly. EXTREME LEVELS OF VIOLENCE PC Burch went on: “We took her outside to wait for the police van and she kicked me, raising her knee and driving her foot back into my shin. “I felt a sharp pain. She was taken to the floor.” Special Constable Murphy said: “She banged her … [Read more...] about Playboy bunny faces jail after boozy rampage where she bit a police officer and kicked another
Ukraine president passes drug test demanded by electoral challenger
Ukraine's president has undergone drug and alcohol tests demanded by a comedian who is challenging him in a runoff election this month - passing both, according to preliminary results. Petro Poroshenko, 53, submitted to the tests at a clinic at Kiev's Olympic stadium in front of cameras yesterday, giving blood, hair and urine samples to four laboratories. A doctor declared that no alcohol or psychoactive substances were found, but added that a full analysis of the president's tests would take up to three days. Meanwhile, his challenger Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who plays a teacher-turned-president on a popular television show, took a blood test at a private clinic. He also passed, but a copy of the results he posted was dated to Tuesday, before he had even called on Mr Poroshenko to undergo testing. The clinic later said an employee had mistakenly entered the wrong date on the form. The barrage of testing arose from a war of words after Mr Zelenskiy won 30 per cent of the … [Read more...] about Ukraine president passes drug test demanded by electoral challenger