Scottish Parliament e-Brief

Issue 79, 13^th August 2001

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

Parliament is in recess.

SECTION 2 - NEWS

EARLY INTERVENTION, MENTORING AND BETTER SUPPORT FOR JUNIOR DOCTORS, GPs AND DENTISTS

A package of ‘early intervention’ measures to prevent poor performance among junior doctors and dentists in training and GPs has been outlined by the Scottish Executive.

Key recommendations include:

• Each hospital should have at least one designated senior clinician who will act as the trainee’s mentor, but who will not be part of the Trust management structure.
• Any instance of poor performance should lead to a critical examination of the doctor’s or dentist’s working hours; any health issues affecting the trainee; and their training supervision to see whether the trainer is operating effectively.
• NHS employers should encourage a "no blame culture" and an atmosphere of openness and support, ensuring that systems are in place to allow staff to speak freely about concerns they may have about their own performance or that of others.

Health Minister, Susan Deacon, said:

"These measures, drawn up by the professions for the professions, will ensure that the appropriate systems are in place throughout Scotland to prevent poor performance and ensure that junior doctors and dentists in training and GPs, receive the support and training they need.

"By identifying potential difficulties early on, NHS Trusts will be able to prevent more serious problems arising at a later stage. This will create a better, more supportive working environment for NHS staff and also improve patient safety.

"For too long inexperienced junior doctors have had to fend for themselves in a system where they were expected to work for too long, with little support. That is no longer acceptable and the new mentoring system will go a long way towards overcoming those problems."

Full Story

'INTEGRATION NOT CONFRONTATION' ON ASYLUM ISSUE

Deputy Minister for Health, Malcolm Chisholm, who also has the responsibility for co-ordinating asylum issues within the Scottish Executive, has met the Scottish Asylum Seekers Consortium to be briefed on how authorities are reacting to the appalling murder of an asylum seeker in Glasgow earlier this week.

The Minister used the meeting to condemn the "small minority who have brought shame on Scotland" by harassing asylum seekers, and called on other Scottish local authorities to explore the role they could play in welcoming asylum seekers.

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister said:

"I condemn unreservedly the small minority who have harassed and attacked asylum seekers over recent months. This minority brings shame on Scotland and the first priority must and will be to protect asylum seekers and refugees. Asylum seekers came here fleeing desperate circumstances in their own countries. They should not have to carry that fear with them around the streets of Glasgow or any other town in Scotland.

"We must also look to the longer-term. A sizeable number of asylum seekers will be granted leave to become permanent citizens of our country. I am clear that we need to co-ordinate the integration of these refugees in Scotland, and I expect to be able to announce details shortly of a new Integration Forum to oversee the Scottish dimension of this issue

"We must also continue to tackle the pressures and issues that create and magnify divisions in our society – poverty, ill-health, poor housing, lack of education and training opportunities. These are the real enemies of all those living in our poorer communities."

Full Story

SECTION 3 - NOTES ON THIS WEEK’S CHAMBER BUSINESS

Parliament is in recess.

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