Teaching issues

Question 1

You are the IMT 1 doctor working on the endocrinology ward.

You are due to attend a weekly IMT teaching, but for the past 4 weeks you have been told by your consultant not to attend the teaching due to significant staffing pressures on the ward.

The consultant has today again requested that you do not attend teaching and instead stay on the ward.

What issues does this scenario raise?

Answer 1

There is a moral and practical obligation to ensure juniors such as myself are trained appropriately to form the next generation of senior doctors. Missing regular teaching opportunities could result in a lack of personal and professional development and ultimately prevent me from perform at the expected level of a registrar.

Of course, this needs to be balanced against the short-term patient safety issues that could be raised by my leaving a very busy ward.

If this situation arises due to a genuine medical emergency, then it would be clearly inappropriate to leave. If this is a recurring issue, it’s far more likely to be a cultural or staffing issue.

Question 2

How would you approach the situation?

Answer 2

• Raise concerns with the consultant professionally.
• Highlight the importance of teaching for training and patient care.
• Offer a compromise (e.g., staying today but addressing future sessions).
• Seek long-term solutions like rota adjustments.

Question 3

How would you go about explaining your position to the consultant in question?

Answer 3

• Remain professional and non-confrontational.
• Emphasize training’s importance for patient care and career progression.
• Suggest solutions like rota adjustments to prevent future conflicts.
• Consider a compromise (e.g., staying today while expecting change).

Question 4

How could you report this issue if the consultant remained unsupportive?

Answer 4

• Escalate to your clinical or educational supervisor
• Notify the training programme director or head of department.
• Submit exception reports to create a documented record.
• Advocate for organizational changes if systemic issues persist.

Situations such as this often arise in the context of a challenged and understaffed department which may be inappropriate for trainees to even rotate through in the most extreme cases, necessitating withdrawal of IMTs entirely until the culture and staffing is improved. The senior figures involved in coordinating training locally need to know about these issues as soon as possible in order to find timely solutions.

Question 5

Do consultants have a contractual obligation to help facilitate teaching for junior trainees?

Answer 5

It is a professional and contractual requirement for consultants working in areas with trainees to help facilitate their education and training.