Present: Dr Louise Smart (LS) (Acting Chair), Mr Paul Hudson (PH), Professor Gillian Needham (GN) part meeting.

Transcription

1 Minutes of the meeting of the Scottish Board for Training in Diagnostics Specialties held at am on Tuesday 19 March 2013 in Interview Room 3, Forest Grove House, Foresterhill, Aberdeen (with videoconference links) Present: Dr Louise Smart (LS) (Acting Chair), Mr Paul Hudson (PH), Professor Gillian Needham (GN) part meeting. In attendance: Ms Helen McIntosh (HM). By videoconference: Dundee Dr Alan Cook (AC) part meeting, Dr Tom Taylor (TT); Edinburgh Dr Fiona Ewing (FE), Dr Hannah Monaghan (HMo), Dr Shona Olson (SO), Professor Rowan Parks (RP); Glasgow Dr Peter Galloway (PG) part meeting, Dr John Hood (JH) part meeting, Dr Wilma Kincaid (WK), Dr Mark McCleery (MM), Dr Jennifer Tolhurst (JT); Inverness (1) Ms Jackie Sutherland (JS); Inverness (2) - Dr Emma Watson (EW). Apologies: Dr Celia Aitken (CA), Dr John Bremner (JB), Professor Graeme Houston (GH), Dr Peter Johnston (PJ), Mr Stewart McCracken (SM), Dr Hamish McRitchie (HMcR), Dr Ronald MacVicar (RM), Dr Maeve McPhillips (MMcP), Professor Massimo Pignatelli (MP), Ms Tracy Rennie (TR) Ms Karen Shearer (KS). 1. Welcome and apologies Dr Smart was deputising as Chair at today s meeting in Dr Johnston s absence. Apologies were noted. 2. Minutes of meeting held on 21 February 2013 The following amendments were noted: Page 2, item 4.2, first paragraph, second sentence to read Chemical Pathology recruited to 4 vacancies and made 3 offers all of which were accepted It was agreed to amend ID where it appeared in the minutes to read Infection Training. With these amendments the minutes were accepted as a correct record of the meeting and will be posted on the website. 3. Matters arising/actions from previous meeting 3.1 College restructure: Education update PJ was seeking comments from STB members on the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) training committee restructure to feedback to the RCPath Scottish Council. STB members to send comments to PJ. 3.2 Interventional Radiology: communication with Professor Padfield The STB continued to press for expansion in Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology. PJ contacted Professor Padfield with the STB view highlighting the lack of progress towards expansion in Interventional Radiology (IR) and the

2 need for expansion in Diagnostic Radiology (DR). Professor Padfield has now responded in detail to the various points raised and proposed he and PJ meet again. Movement of training posts by viring salaries was not presently possible but the Scottish Government was aware of the need for more discussion. Professor Padfield s view was that unless Health Boards signalled their need for more Radiologists it was difficult to argue for an increase in training numbers. There were a number of unfillable Radiology posts in Scotland although it was difficult to access hard data. GN felt that local and regional workforce plans could be used as evidence and would be useful in making the case. Professor Padfield also questioned whether Radiology has done enough to transfer some general (plain film) work to non-medics. AC considered this was a legitimate area of skills expansion but also felt it was feasible to have additional skills mix plus consultant expansion. However he acknowledged they needed to address this to show they were doing enough. He felt they should look at each area s workforce plan and how it was dealing with increasing workload. MM noted that large numbers of Radiographers were being training in Glasgow with the result that trainees experienced difficulty in accessing A & E Radiology exposure. It was agreed to circulate Professor Padfield s to the STB and for comments to be sent to PJ. PJ will respond on behalf of the STB to Professor Padfield. Actions: To circulate Professor Padfield s to the STB; comments to be sent to PJ. PJ to respond on behalf of the STB. 3.3 Infection Training: update to MDET PJ will take this to the next MDET meeting. PJ to take information to next MDET meeting. 4. Recruitment 4.1 SMT recruitment 2013: update and matters/actions arising from last meeting JS reported all posts in Medical Microbiology and Chemical Pathology were offered and accepted and paperwork was complete. It was noted one candidate was now in the formal complaints procedure. LS thanked JS for her efforts in ensuring a successful recruitment process. 4.2 UK national recruitment 2013 Chemical Pathology update PG reported ST3 posts were advertised through UK national recruitment; however, they were shown as subspecialty posts of Metabolic Medicine rather than posts in Chemical Pathology with subspecialty in Metabolic Medicine. This has caused much disquiet and the Scottish College was unhappy with the 2

3 recruitment process run by West Midlands Deanery. RP felt this was an issue of the mis- labelling of posts rather than the process itself. RP will take the issue forward with Fiona Muchet. PG also agreed to provide RP with a briefing paper on the specialty and the different routes in as background information. Radiology update TT reported UK national recruitment at ST1 was very successful and as all Scottish posts filled they will not participate in a Round 2. He provided information on the recruitment costs in terms of days lost and finance for the STB s information. As there was no shortlisting in the UK process this produced a saving in terms of time and time spent interviewing was the same as previously. In terms of financial cost to Scotland - in 2012 this was 100 per consultant per day; in 2013 this was increased to 300 per day. Of all applications received 21 preferenced Scotland as first choice which was considered disappointing. GN felt it was difficult to compare competition ratios with last year as previously people may have banked Scotland as a choice without any intention of coming to train in Scotland; as a result the picture this year was cleaner. The most recent SRDB meeting discussed UK national recruitment; there was no final decision yet as no formal evaluation has been made although she felt it likely to happen given the push from HEE and England s Department of Health for the MDRS electronic system. RP said feed back from STBs on national recruitment was very important. He was seeking to arrange a meeting with all STB chairs to collect data and other groups were also looking at information on fill rates/gaps. All information collated will go to the SRDB for review. JS noted there were different models of recruitment cluster/local/national and they could consider whether a different model would produce a better result. TT said he and colleagues would be keen to host interviews in Scotland in future. This worked well previously and interaction at interview with Scottish consultants had encouraged trainees to come to the country. Histopathology HMo produced a report for the meeting. All 3 Scottish consultants were involved in longlisting and shortlisting and although scores were to form part of the research tool they had no bearing on selection for interview. Candidates who arrived without paperwork were awarded zero for portfolio station at the time but this was not followed through. In terms of costings, all accommodation and travel was paid for by the English Pathology Schools otherwise this would have been very expensive as interview details were not known until close to the date resulting in open travel arrangements and a 3 night stay rather than 2. Time spent on the process was similar but only 3 consultants were involved instead of 9 as last year. HMo herself had to commit a considerable amount of time to the process but hoped this would not be the case next year. The London Deanery was well organised on the day but concerns remained about standardisation and cut off points for offers. They filled 7 of the 11 Scottish vacancies with 2 vacancies remaining in Glasgow, one in Aberdeen and one in Dundee. The STB discussed whether to participate in Round 2 in May. NES has requested the view of STB but stated that it would be an all Scotland rather 3

4 than Deanery level decision; either all Scotland would participate or not. There were concerns the quality of candidates in Round 2 may not be as high as in Round 1. It was agreed on balance the specialty did not wish to join Round 2 recruitment. LS will inform PJ and he will let Michele Laverty know the STB s recommendation. Virology update No recruitment update was received. Actions: RP to discuss mis-labelling of ST3 Chemical Pathology posts with Fiona Muchet. PG to provide RP with a briefing paper on Chemical Pathology and the different routes in. LS to inform PJ Histopathology did not wish to join Round 2 recruitment; PJ will inform Michele Laverty of the STB s recommendation. 5. Quality remit Noted: GMC survey was about to open. 6. Update reports 6.1 Liaison Dean 6.2 Histopathology 6.3 Radiology No further updates were received. 6.4 Medical Microbiology JH reported the replacement for the CATT will be convened after 21 April; he will keep the STB informed on developments. JH to keep the STB informed on College restructure developments Virology Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine Trainees Academic issues Service issues Lay representative No further updates were received. 7. Report of meetings attended 7.1 PGME Conference on Tuesday 30 April 2013 RP reminded the STB of the conference to be held at the EICC. Details have been circulated and he encouraged further dissemination to trainees and TPDs. There was a good programme for the event including participation from HEE, PG Deans from England, GMC and sessions on simulation, revalidation, academic careers and the Francis report as well as launching the START initiative. He asked board members to promote this as best they could. 4

5 8. Received for information No further information was received. 9. AOB 9.1 Radiology exam week TT noted this coincided with the date of the next STB meeting. 10. Date and time of next meeting The next meeting will take place at am on Wednesday 17 April 2013 in Forest Grove House, Foresterhill, Aberdeen (with videoconference links). Actions arising from the meeting Item no Item name Action Who 3. Matters arising/actions from 3.1 previous meeting College restructure: Education To send comments to PJ. All update 3.2 Interventional Radiology: communication with Professor Padfield To circulate Professor Padfield s to the STB; comments to be sent to PJ. To respond on behalf of the HM PJ 3.3 Infection Training: update to MDET 4. Recruitment 4.2 UK national recruitment 2013 STB. To take information to next MDET meeting. To discuss mis-labelling of ST3 Chemical Pathology posts with Fiona Muchet. To provide RP with a briefing paper on Chemical Pathology and the different routes in. To inform PJ Histopathology did not wish to join Round 2 recruitment; PJ will inform Michele Laverty of the STB s recommendation. 6.4 Medical Microbiology To keep the STB informed on College restructure developments. PJ RP PG LS/PJ JH 5