RCEM Scotland Update, March 2023

Dr JP Loughrey, Dr Jocelyn Brittliff & Alex Bann, March 30, 2023

Much is written about our staffing in Emergency Departments, but much of that is focused on our Junior Doctor (of all tiers) and Consultant groups. I thought it an opportune moment to reflect on two of the groups who contribute massively to patient care, Specialty Doctors and Specialists, and our ACPs. Our RCEM Scotland representatives for these groups are longstanding friends and colleagues who provide high quality care as part of long established teams in Scotland, and represent their staff groups with poise, clarity, and the customary advocacy for our patients and colleagues. It’s an honour to lead them in chairing the RCEM Scotland Board, and I’ve learned huge amounts from working alongside them over the years. I’ll return with some updates in the next Despatches on all things Policy and Performance, perhaps when the changes at the top of Scottish Government have settled and a new Cabinet Secretary is settled in post!

Over to Alex and Jocelyn to give their updates.

Dr JP Loughrey
Chair, RCEM Scotland National Board and VP (Scotland) RCEM
@VP_Scot_RCEM / vpscotland@rcem.ac.uk

EMSAS

EMSAS, Formally FASSGEM, is the Emergency medicine Speciality doctor and Specialist forum, an integral part of RCEM.

The group initially started in 1997 as the Forum for associate specialists and staff grade doctors in emergency medicine. Given these 2 posts no longer exist we rebranded with new logo and all in November 2021, launched by the College patron of HRH the Princess Royal at our virtual conference.

Whilst the name suggests we support the SAS group of doctors, we are also very keen to support clinical fellows, locally appointed doctors and anyone else working in EM that are not covered by EMTA or consultant groups.

We have representatives on all the major RCEM committee, and with the increasing use of online meetings our execs and rep teams now meet every few months online.

We have an active WhatsApp group for relevant issues, sharing of information, and a separate one for support for those of you considering or trying to CESR

There is a spring meeting in May in London, and an annual conference in November. This meeting moves, and November 2023 goes to the Isle of Man, home of the TT races.

As well as good educational content and vital CPD our format gives you the chance to meet, network and socialise with like minded colleagues from around the UK.

It also includes a chance to present in a bid to win the Andrew Newton Cup – named after one of the early chairs of FASSGEM.

As for me, I am just coming towards the end of a second term as Scottish rep.

It has been an honour to do this, but has also given me a chance to get first hand knowledge of what goes on elsewhere in Scotland, as well as attend events on behalf of RCEM at the Scottish parliament.

We are here to represent you so let us know what you would like from us!
Visit our page on the RCEM website https://rcem.ac.uk/emergency-medicine-specialist-and-staff-emsas/
You can see a full list of exec members there.
And it would be great to meet new members in November, so save the dates 14-17 November 2023!

Dr Jocelyn Brittliff
EMSAS Vice chair and Scottish representative
@JBrittliff

RCEM ACP Scotland update March 2023.

The RCEM ACP forum is now in its second iteration with regional representatives for areas across the UK. I have taken over as the forum representative for Scotland. I am just beginning to settle into the role and gather an understanding of where we are as a cohort in Scotland. We have Advanced Practitioners working in approximately 10 Emergency Departments in NHS Scotland. There may be more I have yet to reach. Some but not all departments and practitioners have joined RCEM and are actively working towards Credentialing with the college. We are hoping to have our first practitioners credential in 2023/2024.

The ACP role is still in its infancy in Scotland with nursing (ANP) roles still making up most of the advanced practice landscape. I hope we can push on with encouraging and supporting more AHPs into these roles, particularly within EM where a multi-professional workforce is immensely valuable. We have lots of regional variation in how the role is implemented and utilised. I hope to use the forums collective knowledge and previous RCEM work to support teams in finding ways to work sustainably with support, education, and training imperative for development of this workforce.

My aims as forum representative predominantly revolve around establishing a network of support for each other. We are a small cohort of practitioners working in an extremely challenging specialty. We have already noticed issues with retention of staff, with a number of experienced advanced practitioners leaving emergency care for other areas of work. I feel we can utilise our shared experiences and learnings to support each other and further the role nationally and demonstrate why EM is a desirable place to work as an advanced practitioner. With this in mind we have started informal drop-in MS teams sessions and are creating a WhatsApp group which we can utilise to share learning and have an easy and open way to discuss all things RCEM portfolio. I am really excited about what we can do as a forum and personally for the role in Scotland. From early interactions with some of the Scottish practitioners, we have a group of people passionate and excited about the ACP role and emergency care. This is truly commendable in light of the current pressures we are experiencing and gives me hope for the future of our specialty.

Alex Bann
RCEM ACP Forum Representative Scotland
scotlandacpforumrep@rcem.ac.uk

Dr JP Loughrey
Chair, RCEM Scotland National Board
VP (Scotland) RCEM
@VP_Scot_RCEM
vpscotland@rcem.ac.uk