Why work in the NHS?
- 1. Dr Nicola H Strickland President of The Royal College of Radiologists, UK Consultant Radiologist Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London Working as a radiologist in the UK
- 2. Workforce issues • 9% unfilled consultant posts (>1000 jobs) • 66% unfilled for >1 year • not all of them advertised now • 250,000 exams unreported >1 month Why? • Government not funding enough trainees • 35 extra this year, need 260 extra! • exponential increase in workload • ↑10% CTs, ↑10% MRs (more in Scotland)
- 3. The good things about working in the UK • The National Health Service (NHS) healthcare free at point of need best, most appropriate investigations done no financial motivation for personal gain • Radiologists respected and valued by our clinical colleagues added value appreciated our advice is frequently sought
- 4. The good things about working in the UK • digital systems throughout the UK PACS, RIS, speech rec, EPR, e-requesting imaging studies transferred via “IEP” (image exchange portal) nationwide - nothing sent by removable media Scotland, Wales & N. Ireland have unique identifier, England has NHS number diagnostic night work is outsourced - lifestyle benefit!
- 5. The good things about working in the UK • we work as teams multidisciplinary teams (MDTMs) radiologists have key role - specialisation - remain state-of-the-art on site presence essential teams with our radiographers - ultrasound, extremity reporting - respect, rapport
- 6. faceless radiologists working remotely divorced from clinical practice no F2F interaction with colleagues Radiologists adding value
- 7. must act as doctors as well as radiologists ask clinical questions of referrers speak up in MDTMs and 1:1 interactions with clinicians suggest next step in care (imaging and clinical) only agree to do the best imaging study for the patient Report structure: answer the clinical question asked! only give relevant negatives conclusion = differential diagnosis and next steps produce actionable reports Radiologists adding value
- 8. Report structure – example: Clinical details: productive cough 3/12 ?cause Report description: Bronchi are dilated, thick-walled poorly tapering…. No air trapping….. X lung nodules, X honeycomb cyst formation….. Report conclusion: The cough is highly likely to be due to bronchiectasis… Radiologists adding value
- 9. The good things about working in the UK • teaching and learning opportunities trainees rotate to district general hospitals teach medical and surgical junior doctors present at “grand rounds” join intensive care ward rounds (ITU) “discrepancy meetings” - learning from peer feedback audit projects
- 10. • experience a different way of working • 6 weeks holiday a year (30 days) • 10 days study leave a year • perfect your English! • Improve the style of your reports • learn to act with confidence as a clinical doctor • learn to take MDTMs • expand your expertise • often no on-call So what’s in it for you?!
- 11. get to know the UK! So what’s in it for you?!
- 13. • “RadJobs” website https://radjobs.co.uk/radiology-jobs/ • The British Medical Journal (BMJ) https://jobs.bmj.com/searchjobs/?keywords= • NHS Jobs https://www.nhsjobs.com • Ring up Radiology Clinical Director where you want to work to enquire about vacancies So how do you find a job?