Zoe Blofeld

Later in life doctor in paediatrics.

[RCPCH @RCPCHtweets]

Today RCPCH has called for a pause in the recruitment of Physicians Associates (PAs) into paediatrics.

This follows our survey of College members on their views and experiences of PAs working in paediatrics.

Read our statement: https://t.co/wGTnGeWRkJ

[Tim Ricketts @timricketts_]

It’s important to remember the quoted 20% figure includes the pay increase given to us by the tories.

Without commitment to FPR, I’ll be voting no to this offer.

Any deal that leaves an F1 being paid less than their assistant is unacceptable

[RCPCH @RCPCHtweets]

📣 RSV vaccination programme announced! 📣#CampaignWin

This is a crucial step to protect children’s health & reduce pressure on the NHS during winter.

Thank you to the 2,000+ paediatricians & healthcare professionals who signed our open letter & helped make this happen.

[Zoe Blofeld @zoeblofeld]

@dx_mighty Congratulations Dr Donya!

[Ollie Burton @ollieburtonmed]

If you're outraged by substitution of 'specialists', then logically you should also be outraged by substitution of your juniors. It seems that many aren't, and that can be telling. It should be about doctors as a whole, as a profession - not just your group.

[Zoe Blofeld @zoeblofeld]

@Jillyphys @Cray_tweets1 @EmergMedDr That's ok, it's easy to unintentionally sound ruder than you want to online. I think we are largely on the same page.

[Zoe Blofeld @zoeblofeld]

@timricketts_ It's funny because I say the paeds reg is like the med reg, but for kids.

[Zoe Blofeld @zoeblofeld]

@Cray_tweets1 @EmergMedDr I only object to the specific language used in the original post because, as you say, it is difficult to understand unless you have studied law. Just as for many outside medicine it is difficult to understand the difference when people are not precise with their words.

[Zoe Blofeld @zoeblofeld]

@Cray_tweets1 @EmergMedDr As someone else said, maybe I'm splitting hairs. I don't disagree with anything you've said here, nor do I mean to imply that GDL route is comparable to PA studies. It isn't.

[Zoe Blofeld @zoeblofeld]

@Cray_tweets1 @EmergMedDr This maybe a small point, but people describe the PA course as a condensed medicine course (it isn't) or that PAs studied medicine at university (they didn't) and I worry that the specific comparison worded as above feeds this narrative.

[Zoe Blofeld @zoeblofeld]

@Cray_tweets1 @EmergMedDr I certainly agree with your main points here and a role substitution for either lawyers or doctors would be inappropriate and in that sense the comparison is valid.

My only objections is to the point of language around law degree vs conversion course.

[Zoe Blofeld @zoeblofeld]

@Jillyphys @EmergMedDr My point is the statement lawyers need a law degree doesn't help because it's inaccurate.

Both lawyers and doctors need rigorous training and we are in agreement that GEM is the standardized graduate route to medicine.

[Zoe Blofeld @zoeblofeld]

@Jillyphys @EmergMedDr That isn't what @EmergMedDr has said. IMO the comparison plays into the narrative that a post graduate conversion may be adequate for medicine if it was just a bit more standardised. Which it isn't and never will be.

[Zoe Blofeld @zoeblofeld]

@Jillyphys @EmergMedDr But some are arguing that the PA course is the same as a medicine converdion course. It isn't, but it does make this comparison unhelpful.

[Zoe Blofeld @zoeblofeld]

@Princess4life90 @EmergMedDr Right so not necessarily a law degree but a post graduate conversion plus exam.

Now I imagine it's very rigorous but it still doesn't make the best comparison here IMO.

[Dr Rachel Clarke @doctor_oxford]

@gmcuk I think it is sheer madness for the GMC to champion a model of regulation for PAs in which the scope of practice is left up to local trusts.

After all, the horrors of Mid-Staffs occurred when a cash-strapped trust tried to save money through understaffing - then covered it up.

[Dr Richard Webb @DrRJWebb]

@ShaunLintern Repeatedly saying we don’t work evenings and weekends is the fastest way of pissing us all off, given many of us work 13 hour shifts, days and nights, across 7 days, work more hours routinely than a standard working week, plus all the extras we don’t get paid for.

[Ollie Burton @ollieburtonmed]

A lot of the desire to humble doctors comes from how badly many have behaved in the past - people have been elitist and arrogant, and continue to be. However, expecting proper training, licensing, knowledge and experience is not elitist.