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I’ve been thinking about this today.
I’m not sure I have answers, but I want to share my thoughts to get things straight in my own mind as much as anyone else’s.
Thanks for bringing it up @DurrantNiall, I think it’s vital we talk about and challenge the status quo. A thread: https://twitter.com/durrantniall/status/1356570468409614336
I’m not sure I have answers, but I want to share my thoughts to get things straight in my own mind as much as anyone else’s.
Thanks for bringing it up @DurrantNiall, I think it’s vital we talk about and challenge the status quo. A thread: https://twitter.com/durrantniall/status/1356570468409614336
2: What is the College for?
RCPCH sets out and assesses the training of paediatricians. If it didn’t do this, anyone could call themselves a paediatrician, and offer care to kids, while entirely blagging it (I’m only mostly blagging it...)
RCPCH sets out and assesses the training of paediatricians. If it didn’t do this, anyone could call themselves a paediatrician, and offer care to kids, while entirely blagging it (I’m only mostly blagging it...)
3:
At inception, our founders also made a choice to be a College of Child Health, representing not just us as doctors, but the people we care for. It means the College has a unique advocacy role and enables the production of guidelines and policy which other Colleges do not.
At inception, our founders also made a choice to be a College of Child Health, representing not just us as doctors, but the people we care for. It means the College has a unique advocacy role and enables the production of guidelines and policy which other Colleges do not.
4:
A key part of maintaining quality involves assessment. I could talk all day on the arguments for this and the various purposes, maybe that’s for another time. Regardless of the why, assessment should be robust and fair. The process of validating that takes time and money.
A key part of maintaining quality involves assessment. I could talk all day on the arguments for this and the various purposes, maybe that’s for another time. Regardless of the why, assessment should be robust and fair. The process of validating that takes time and money.
5:
Validation costs money even if the clinicians who do it give their time for free. Questions do not write or check themselves. In the US this is big business and exams are extortionate. In EU exams are often cheaper. We are in the middle. I’d like to see a comparison study.
Validation costs money even if the clinicians who do it give their time for free. Questions do not write or check themselves. In the US this is big business and exams are extortionate. In EU exams are often cheaper. We are in the middle. I’d like to see a comparison study.
6:
People don’t like exams. They are stressful and expensive. They’re not a cash cow, they cost a lot to run. BUT without exams we don’t currently have a robust was to say this doctor is a safe paediatrician and this one needs more work. There might be better ways, but not yet.
People don’t like exams. They are stressful and expensive. They’re not a cash cow, they cost a lot to run. BUT without exams we don’t currently have a robust was to say this doctor is a safe paediatrician and this one needs more work. There might be better ways, but not yet.
7:
Portfolio. Again I could talk all day about how this came to be. GMC, MMC, famous cases of abuse of power and negligence. Ultimately we hold incredibly powerful jobs, we make choices of life or death, and other people understandably want “evidence” of how we got here.
Portfolio. Again I could talk all day about how this came to be. GMC, MMC, famous cases of abuse of power and negligence. Ultimately we hold incredibly powerful jobs, we make choices of life or death, and other people understandably want “evidence” of how we got here.
8:
Is portfolio good evidence? Does it make you a better doctor? There are arguments either way. Currently there are legal requirements for Revalidation, and therefore portfolio remains necessary. Could we do it better? Yes, and we continue to strive for this.
Is portfolio good evidence? Does it make you a better doctor? There are arguments either way. Currently there are legal requirements for Revalidation, and therefore portfolio remains necessary. Could we do it better? Yes, and we continue to strive for this.
9:
Why is it more expensive than RCP? Our parent College is just that, they gave us a nest egg to set us up in life, but they kept the house and the shares, and the artwork, and the fine china. They also have a LOT more members, which makes their fee more efficient.
Why is it more expensive than RCP? Our parent College is just that, they gave us a nest egg to set us up in life, but they kept the house and the shares, and the artwork, and the fine china. They also have a LOT more members, which makes their fee more efficient.
10: Why pay for a big building in London?
RCPCH mostly own that building, it’s not rented. It is an investment. The value will go up, one day the rest of the mortgage will be paid off, then we will be our own master. That’s what we all want for our families.
RCPCH mostly own that building, it’s not rented. It is an investment. The value will go up, one day the rest of the mortgage will be paid off, then we will be our own master. That’s what we all want for our families.
11: It is too London centric.
Yep, probably. I’m an EoE trainee, the train is fine. Everything’s online now. The centre of UK power is in London, and if we want influence we have to be there too. Don’t hate the player. Maybe this will change, but there are more important issues.
Yep, probably. I’m an EoE trainee, the train is fine. Everything’s online now. The centre of UK power is in London, and if we want influence we have to be there too. Don’t hate the player. Maybe this will change, but there are more important issues.
12: The College should do more for me.
I’m here for that, AND it has to do it really well. I’d rather do less stuff really well, than more stuff badly. I’d argue that local teams know local need best. So the College is best supporting local teams. Happy to debate it though.
I’m here for that, AND it has to do it really well. I’d rather do less stuff really well, than more stuff badly. I’d argue that local teams know local need best. So the College is best supporting local teams. Happy to debate it though.
13: Everyone gives their time for free.
Yes and no. A lot of my College work is on NHS time. Some Officers will have excellence awards. Medicine is not a factory, you don’t get to clock off advocating for child health. Please look after yourself, only give time you can afford.
Yes and no. A lot of my College work is on NHS time. Some Officers will have excellence awards. Medicine is not a factory, you don’t get to clock off advocating for child health. Please look after yourself, only give time you can afford.
14: College staff something something.
My experience of RCPCH staff has been exceptional, I’ve learned so much from them, many of them experts in their field. This I will not debate. They help grow better paediatricians, and if you are rude about them I have no time for you.
My experience of RCPCH staff has been exceptional, I’ve learned so much from them, many of them experts in their field. This I will not debate. They help grow better paediatricians, and if you are rude about them I have no time for you.
15:
I have been lucky. I’ve had a voice, a loud one. I’ve made change, hopefully for the better, and RCPCH Officers and staff have made me the paediatrician I am today. I hope to pass that forward and keep helping my colleagues every day.
I have been lucky. I’ve had a voice, a loud one. I’ve made change, hopefully for the better, and RCPCH Officers and staff have made me the paediatrician I am today. I hope to pass that forward and keep helping my colleagues every day.
16:
Not everyone is as lucky. Through chance, inequality, discrimination, or injustice some colleagues have a raw deal. Much like many children. It’s our responsibility to build them up & support them. We don’t do that by tearing others down, least of all our College.
Not everyone is as lucky. Through chance, inequality, discrimination, or injustice some colleagues have a raw deal. Much like many children. It’s our responsibility to build them up & support them. We don’t do that by tearing others down, least of all our College.
17/end:
Yes we can and must do better. Yes we must answer these questions, be transparent and held to account. Yes these things are all happening.
Let’s make sure we leave things better than we found them, for each other, and most importantly for the children.
Yes we can and must do better. Yes we must answer these questions, be transparent and held to account. Yes these things are all happening.
Let’s make sure we leave things better than we found them, for each other, and most importantly for the children.
