1500 push ups so far. No idea why I started the September challenge early and my shoulders are unhappy. Gotta keep going, though! I deal with spinal metastases frequently and hope not to see them in the future, as a result of good research. fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/ionas-g...

I'm building up my arms in preparation for September's Cancer Research UK push up challenge. fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/ionas-g...

“Given the seriousness of the concerns, and the lack of an independent review commissioned for Wales, we urge the Welsh Government to immediately implement the recommendations" 🗣️ @nhsdoctor.bsky.social responds to the Leng Review ➡️ www.bma.org.uk/bma-media-ce...

The assistant role has an assistant title

I was just outside King's Cross 20 years ago today, about to board a train, first confused and then frightened as the true horror of what had happened emerged. As ever, my thoughts are with the victims of #7/7 and their families. As ever, I am proud of how London came together, undivided by hate.

"The NHS has processes to tackle sub-optimal behaviour yet reports continue to appear about unacceptable work culture" Read @nhsdoctor.bsky.social reflections on NHS performance and working culture ⬇️ bit.ly/4n3I9al

A worthy cause, thanks Rowena www.justgiving.com/page/rowena-...

"This award comes nowhere near to addressing the pay erosion of the last sixteen years" @nhsdoctor.bsky.social responds to today’s pay award announcement 📩 Members look out for an email bit.ly/4msCTMR

Please sign and share. Corridor care doesn’t help anyone and if we reach 10k signatures rapidly, this will get attention in Welsh Parliament more rapidly, too. Thank you petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/24...

Please share 🙏 petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/24...

The High Court has granted us permission to submit evidence to a legal challenge relating to the regulation of PAs and AAs by the GMC, brought by @anaesunited.bsky.social and the family of Emily Chesterton. Read the full story from #TheDrMagazine 👇 thedoctor.bma.org.uk/articles/lif...

Are NHS professionals becoming slaves to protocols?

Are there enough people to get on with the job properly any more? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

This is the qualification which allows me to practise medicine 👇

GPC England has agreed to the 2025/26 contract changes after securing a written commitment from the Government to fully renegotiate the national contract within this parliament. We’re now out of dispute and working on next steps. 👉 Learn more bma.org.uk/gpcontract

“The service is failing to equip doctors with the ability to deliver care when it is needed”   📺 @nhsdoctor.bsky.social on last night’s @sharpenditv.bsky.social on how limited resources, corridor care and extreme pressures are impacting on the ability to deliver safe and timely care to patients

“We feared going to work. We feared getting sick and we feared that we may infect those around us” @nhsdoctor.bsky.social Iona Collins recalls the early days of COVID, and the injustices experienced since ⬇️ www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opi...

@bma.org.uk highlights that it will explore all options, including legal, to help correct that which has gone wrong. www.thefederation.uk/news/mrcpuk-...

The MRCP exam debacle is outrageous. I can't write what I would like to say. We are exploring ALL possible options, including legal, for those affected. CONTACT US if you are in this boat. And get wellbeing support if struggling.

The federation’s handling of the MRCP exam issue has been "completely atrocious" @redrunswick.bsky.social says to @news.sky.com Doctors dedicate their time and money going to study events and courses, this error will have a huge toll on their wellbeing. Read more news.sky.com/story/calls-...

The BMA states that it will explore legal options.

We've written to @WesStreeting to ask for a coordinated, urgent response to the @MRCPUK exams debacle that protects jobs and training, so no doctor suffers further detriment. We represent many doctors affected and will pursue all legal routes available. Read our demands 👇

“We're not delivering emergency care, we're not delivering the very first basic thing that the NHS is supposed to do in our time of need" 🎧Listen to @nhsdoctor.bsky.social on @bbc5live.bsky.social discussing the significant pressure on the NHS in Wales 📻 (48 min)⬇️ bit.ly/4hOKouC

'The absence of evidence of safety incidents [..] appears to have been misinterpreted by policymakers to mean that there are no safety concerns with the substitution of doctors with PAs. This is an error of logic which, if not corrected, is likely to cost lives.' papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

substack.com/@jujuliagrac... Urgent 👇

Can anyone explain how a GP can take on this “over and above” work for just over a fiver?

I thought I should share this pic. Happy Friday, folks.

I think this sums up NHS IT at the moment. Each programme requires separate sign in, slow connectivity and minimal data cross-population. The paper notes allowed drawings, quick check of legacy notes, bold underlined important information etc etc. (yes, I appreciate the rose tints :) )

When will we start planting fruit trees in UK public spaces, for all to enjoy?

BREAKING Revised Royal College of Physicians of London position on Physician Associates. TL;DR: we shifted them considerably towards a safer position. It’s too little too late but a LOT better than nothing. www.rcp.ac.uk/news-and-med...

Can doctors’ assistants be called doctors’ assistants, with doctors being assisted and patients receiving more efficient care as a result? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

go.bsky.app/D8j5bUn I’ve had a bash at setting up a starter pack. If you prefer to not be included/not be included, please DM me and I’ll make the necessary changes :)

More insights come when we look at the jobs in Wales. The map below shows the percentage of households in an area which have no-one in employment. The darkest area is Blaenau Gwent where almost a quarter of households have no-one working.

This is damning of the Welsh Gov. They will argue that it isn’t fair to compare Wales with England given that England is so much bigger and has large pockets of wealth. This'd be a strong point except when we compare Wales to regions of England. Wales is still highest in terms of food bank use.

However it does have a bigger poverty problem than other parts of the UK. This graph shows food bank use in Wales:

Clearly there are there are pockets of the Valleys which have decent incomes and parts of the Welsh capital that are incredibly deprived. You may be surprised to hear that the poorest part and the richest part of Wales are right next to each other!

The horrible facts of the matter that there is a higher percentage of children in poverty than any other age groups:

- There are about 600k children live in Wales - Of those, just under one in three, or 200k, are in poverty. This is households at or below 60% of median income. - Of those, 90k are living in severe poverty (below 50% of median income).

It’s like an orchestrated campaign.

It saddens me greatly that Prof Stephen Powis is happy to tell #BBCBreakfast the blatant untruth that “physician associates have been an integral part of clinical teams for > 20yrs”. It shouldn’t be up to ordinary Drs to call out the disinformation surrounding this scandal…but here we are!

Don’t forget to use your BMA member right to vote. We have a council seat for a consultant and voting closes on November 28th. 2022 council election voting turnout was 7.1% ie 11,312 votes. www.bma.org.uk/what-we-do/u...

Doctors supervise Physician Associates. This needs to be crystal clear and transparent for patients and staff, alike. But if everyone supervises, there’s a risk that nobody supervises. A formally- named doctor supervisor is essential, IMHO. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Today, @bma holds its council meeting all day. Approximately 70 doctors and BMA staff will debate matters pertaining to the medical profession, with minutes published for all BMA members to engage with.