College News - December 200917 December 2009 Scottish Academy Survey on European Working Time Regulations Autumn 2009The RCPE developed the survey on behalf of the Scottish Academy. The 3 Royal Colleges based in Scotland targeted their Fellows and Members across the UK. The on-line questionnaire remained open for 6 weeks and the results are available here. Christmas Charity Lecture 2009 podcast now availableA podcast of the Trainees & Members’ Committee Christmas Charity Lecture 2009 given on 9 December 2009 is now available. The lecture on the subject of ‘Who wants to know – the challenge of freedom of information’ was given by Kevin Dunion OBE, Scottish Information Commissioner, was highly topical, coming in the year in which the issue of politicians’ expenses in the UK has been perhaps the political story of the year, and focuses on Freedom of Information in general and in relation to health. ***Embargo: not for publication before 00:01hrs 5 December 2009*** RCPE Press Release Newly Elected RCPE President Vows to Improve Medical Standards and Support Minimum PricingDr Neil Dewhurst has been elected as the next President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE). Dr Neil Dewhurst, Consultant Cardiologist and General Physician, Perth Royal Infirmary, and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Medicine, University of Dundee, is a highly regarded consultant with over 30 years of experience gained in both District and Teaching Hospitals in Scotland and England and is also currently the Medical Director of MRCP(UK). MRCP(UK) is the examining body which oversees the internationally-recognised Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP (UK)) examination which enables doctors to enter training in order to become consultants. Dr Dewhurst will assume the role of President Elect with immediate effect prior to taking over from the current President on 1 March 2010 and will serve for 3 years. Dr Dewhurst will take over from Prof Sir Neil Douglas, who as the RCPE’s longest-serving President in 250 years (with a period of 6 years in office), has been heavily involved in influencing public health policy, most notably in relation to smoking and alcohol, and medical training at both a Scottish and UK level. Dr Mike Jones, Consultant Physician and Clinical Lead in Acute Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, has also been elected as Vice President (Education & Standards) of the RCPE with immediate effect, initially for 1 year. Speaking after his election, Dr Neil Dewhurst, President-Elect of the RCPE, said, “I am greatly honoured to have been elected to this role. The RCPE has been at the forefront of promoting and maintaining medical standards throughout the UK and internationally. As President my priorities will be to protect the interests of patients and physicians at a time when ever-greater demands are being placed upon the profession. The challenges of providing high standards of out-of-hours care while preserving the continuity of care and achieving EWTD compliance are already evident. If additional time is not freed up within our workloads to accommodate the forthcoming requirements of revalidation, and thus ensuring that doctors’ skills remain up-to-date, I am concerned that medical training and, in turn, the quality of patient care may be compromised. “I would also like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Prof Sir Neil Douglas, who has been instrumental in ensuring that our need to improve public health and to maintain standards of medical training have remained high on the political agenda at a Scottish and UK level. The College was heavily involved in influencing the introduction of the smoking ban in Scotland and we will continue to advocate the adoption of evidence-based policy measures aimed at reducing the harm caused by excessive alcohol consumption. This will involve our continuing support for the introduction of minimum pricing as the Alcohol Bill progresses through the legislative process. In this regard I would strongly urge MSPs of all parties to put the health of the people of Scotland before politics and to lend their support to this vital policy measure”. ENDS Contact: Graeme McAlister on 0131-247-3693 or 07808-939395 Notes to Editors Photographs of Dr Neil Dewhurst and Dr Mike Jones can be obtained by contacting Graeme McAlister at the above numbers or by e-mail – g.mcalister@rcpe.ac.uk Certificates for Doctors Involved in Supporting MRCP (UK) ExamsThe RCPE Trainees & Members’ Committee has initiated the provision of certificates for doctors involved in supporting the MRCP(UK) examination. The certificates can be awarded to MRCP(UK) PACES Co-ordinators (those taking a lead role in the preparation and organisation of a PACES examination) and MRCP(UK) Teaching Co-ordinators (those delivering detailed and structured programmes of teaching specifically for the MRCP(UK). The certificates recognise a commitment in the workplace that is otherwise difficult to capture on a CV and should be a boost to anyone currently involved in MRCP (UK) examination support or teaching, and who may wish to strengthen the educational/management elements of their CV.
|
 |
 |