New BMA rep to focus on recruitment
RECRUITMENT of general practitioners and specialists to the island’s medical services, is the priority of the Guernsey representative of the British Medical Association, Dr Mat Dorrian.
Dr Dorrian is trying to pre-empt difficulties in securing candidates due to the difference in systems from the NHS and geographical isolation.
The recruitment of GPs and specialists to the island is ‘a real issue that we need to be aware of and make allowances for’.
‘We often require experienced candidates to fill the roles. However, people in this position are often settled, have family, stability so it’s a big deal to uproot here to a small island,’ he said.
Focusing particularly on specialist recruitment, those who practise medicine in the island often specialise in one area but also generalise in different medical fields. Issues arise when trying to secure specialists for certain limited patient fields.
‘Generally we do not have an issue recruiting GPs for the most part, but it is very important to be aware of this issue, it is something that could become more pressing.
‘For example, Brexit is very much a flip-of-a-coin. It may have no effect whatsoever, but it could seriously disrupt our supply lines for people and supplies, both in the UK and here. That is the problem, we do rely totally upon the import of supplies and people for the continued operation of the medical service.’
Concerns have been raised over quality of insurance for GPs involved in medical negligence claims. It is feared this may dissuade potential practitioners from taking posts.
‘At the moment all of us who practise medicine need to be indemnified. Yet Guernsey is viewed with particular scrutiny because of the potential difference in payouts between cases. So, yes, it is a high area of vulnerability for us and the BMA is lobbying for security regarding this. We all need doctors and all doctors need to be indemnified, so we realise the need to address the issue.’
Despite some issues with recruitment, Guernsey remains better equipped than the NHS in terms of staffing.
‘We are slightly better doctored than the NHS and the number of patients per GP is slightly less than the UK too. Yet we do this without the large proportion of student and junior doctors that are completing their education with the NHS.
‘Also, I know we have well-publicised issues with waiting times and some bed queues in the PEH, but really you only have to go up there to see how efficiently it is operating. People, even in ED, do not have waiting times anywhere like the UK.’
