Commenting on the latest GMC surveys on patient safety and undermining published today [1,2], Dr Neil Dewhurst, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said,
“These latest findings further highlight the increasing pressures which doctors in the acute medical specialties are experiencing and the potential which this poses for compromising patient safety. It is of particular concern that within the last year over 2700 trainee doctors felt compelled to raise concerns about patient safety and that 61% of these incidents related to a lack of staff and resources. The message could not be clearer that doctors are under a very high level of pressure and that patient care is suffering. More resources are urgently required to rectify this situation.
“In parallel, we welcome the survey on undermining. Bullying occurs in many environments and workplaces, and doctors are not immune from this. It can also take many forms, both direct and indirect. It is clearly of concern that 13% of trainee doctors report being bullied, 20% report witnessing someone else being bullied and that over 1 in 4 have experienced undermining behaviour. It is essential that bullying is identified and eliminated. If we wish to provide the best quality of care for our patients, we have to create supportive working and training environments in which trainee doctors and all members of hospital staff feel protected and valued. Senior doctors involved in supervising training have a particular responsibility in fostering such an environment.”
Dr Rosemary Hollick, Chair, RCPE Trainees & Members’ Committee, said,
“The practice of undermining an individual or individuals in front of colleagues or patients can be either intentional or unintentional. Either way, it can have a devastating effect on individuals and erode their confidence in their own ability and clinical decision-making. This can reduce the effectiveness of doctors in providing care for patients. All medical and healthcare staff have a responsibility to treat their colleagues with respect, regardless of their position, and to contribute to an environment in which bullying, whatever its form, is not tolerated.
“The RCPE has previously developed the Charter for Medical Training which we believe creates a firmer basis for ensuring that trainees are valued by the NHS for their contribution to patient care and in which we have sought to address other forms of bullying [3]. This includes supporting trainees in monitoring and accurately documenting their working patterns, so that they do not feel compelled to falsify their hours to appear compliant with the European Working Time Directive – another issue also highlighted previously by GMC training surveys. By adopting the Charter, employers can demonstrate their commitment to supporting trainees and their trainers, ensuring that training is fair, based on principles of equality and that it fosters the development of professionalism. Excellent training equals excellent patient care.”
ENDS
Contact: Graeme McAlister on 0131-247-3693 or 07733-263453
Notes to Editors
[1] GMC National Training Survey 2013: concerns about patient safety http://www.gmc-uk.org/NTS_2013_autumn_report_concerns_about_patient_safe...
[2] GMC National Training Survey 2013: undermining http://www.gmc-uk.org/NTS_2013_autumn_report_undermining.pdf_54275779.pdf
[3] RCPE Charter for Medical Training, 2011 http://www.rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/files/files/rcpe-charter-for-medical...
