Tomorrow's Doctors

The General Medical Council's aim is to protect patients. They have published a number of documents which act as guidelines by which doctors should follow. 

The Tomorrow’s Doctors document created by the General Medical Council states the roles of the NHS, doctors, medical students and outcomes for graduates. The Good Medical Practice document expands on the duties of doctors that should be second nature to them.

It ensures that the "Tomorrow's Doctors" (Like me hopefully!) can enter and maintain a good healthcare service in the UK. 

A doctor's primary concern is the care of the patients, by keeping knowledge up to date with fast changing technology, creating good relationships with patients and colleagues, acting with integrity and being honest. They are required to offer leadership and work with others in changing systems to benefit patients. This forms the basis of patient-centred care that we have in the NHS.

From reading the documents you can see that the role of a doctor is also wide ranging from being willing and able to teach medical students and communicating effectively with patients and their families and working as a team with colleagues. At work experience I was able to see how crucial it was for doctors to have good relationships with nurses, as well as other doctors for a professional smooth running health service. I also shadowed an FY2 doctor who showed enthusiasm in fulfilling a teaching role, which I enjoyed, as he explained simple procedures to me, such as inserting cannulas and showed me CT scans.

Case study

From reading the document I observed that the doctor must deal with many wide-ranging complex and uncertain situations:

.      "If patients are at risk because of inadequate premises, equipment or other resources, policies or systems, you should put the matter right if that is possible."
"Good Medical Practice (2013)", paragraph 25b

At work experience at Broomfield Hospital I observed an issue regarding lack of resources, which is becoming a prevalent issue in the NHS. A patient who had travelled for 2 hours arrived at the gynecology ward with a lack of beds available. The nurses and doctors had to communicate considerately and effectively and explain the difficult situation at the hospital which means they must be sent home. Therefore some aspects of the job are frustrating when you want to help but some factors are limited beyond your control.

Challenges

Whilst prospective doctors just to help people, they must bear in mind that things can go wrong:

 "55  You must be open and honest with patients if things go wrong. If a patient under your care has suffered harm or distress, you should:

53. 1. a  put matters right (if that is possible)
       
    2. b  offer an apology
       
    3. c  explain fully and promptly what has happened and the likely short-term and long-term effects."
       "Good Medical Practice (2013)"
54. 
    
55. This is especially important as a junior doctor where you will be carrying out new procedures under pressure and you must be prepared to make mistakes, respond appropriately, learn and move on. However things can even go wrong with a doctor having twenty years of experience so it is just part of the profession. It is something to bear in mind but not necessarily be discouraged by.

Three Outcomes of Graduates

In accordance with Good Medical Practice undergraduates are trained to provide and improve health and care of patients as scholars and scientists, practitioners and professionals. 

1) The Doctor as a Scholar and Scientist

This requires being able to apply knowledge gained to medical practice.

2) The Doctor as a Practitioner

This includes being able to carry out a consultation with a patient.
Difficulties in this include when doctors must assess patients capacity to make a particular decision in accordance with legal requirements (Gillick competence for under 16s)
You must provide an explanation, advice, reassurance, whilst staying honest.

3) The Doctor as a Professional 

This is behaving in accordance with ethical and legal principles. 

It includes reflecting, learning and teaching others: being a doctor includes lifelong learning academically and socially (something I would enjoy).


Finally...

Peter Rubin (chair of GMC) states that we will see huge changes in medical practice with continuing developments, new health priorities and rising expectations. Learning about the complexities and difficulties of being a doctor, whilst slightly daunting, makes me more excited to rise to the challenge in the ever-changing field of medicine.