G112(P) Giving a voice to ‘doctors in training’: the role of trainees’ meetings in providing a forum for discussion and initiating service improvement in district general hospitals

Abstract

Within our deanery, monthly ‘Doctors in Training’ meetings are run at two District General Hospitals. These meetings are chaired by a selected trainee and attended by all junior doctors within the paediatric department. Before each meeting, members of the paediatric multidisciplinary team are invited to suggest topics for discussion and share information learnt from clinical governance, morbidity and mortality and child protection forums. During the meetings this information is shared with the trainees to keep everyone updated on key departmental policies and changes. Trainees are then given a safe forum to give feedback and discuss any positive aspects of working in the department, as well as areas for improvement. The trainees make suggestions for change based on these discussions. Minutes from the meeting are circulated to the junior doctors as well as to all the consultants in the department. The meetings have proved an invaluable link for information sharing between consultants and trainees in these paediatric departments. They are an opportunity for senior trainees to provide support to junior members of the team as well as developing their own management skills. 100% of consultants and doctors in training surveyed across the two hospitals agreed or strongly agreed that these meetings are a good idea and 100% felt that positive changes have been made in the departments as a result of these meetings. Trainees also reported that the meetings increased their awareness of departmental changes and that they were more likely to raise concerns at the meetings than directly to a consultant. Consultants have said, ‘I think these meetings are really important’ , ‘they have been extremely useful’ and ‘they help to link team members.’ These meetings are a useful resource for doctors in training, consultants and for the paediatric department as a whole. Shift patterns limit face-to-face contact between team members so these meetings facilitate important communication within the department. They also provide the opportunity for trainees to guide service improvement. This initiative is highly recommended to other departments.