Professional development and research are being neglected: a commentary on the 2019 RCR radiologists' supporting professional activities (SPA) survey

Abstract

When the National Health Service (NHS) acquired a statutory duty of care for quality in 1998, clinical governance became a mandatory and intrinsic part of modern medicine. Defined as “a framework through which NHS organisations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safe-guarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish”, 1 Scally G. Donaldson L.J. Looking forward: clinical governance and the drive for quality improvement in the new NHS in England. BMJ. 1998; 317: 61-65 Crossref PubMed Google Scholar the vehicle for NHS consultants to enact clinical governance was supporting professional activity (SPA). All activities that underpin direct clinical care (DCC) are encouraged during SPA time, including professional development, research, audit, teaching, clinical management, appraisal, and job planning. 2 NHS EmployersGuidance on support professional activities. 2007https://www.nhsemployers.org/pay-pensions-and-reward/medical-staff/consultants-and-dental-consultants/consultants-and-dental-consultants-tcs-handbook/documents-and-guidanceDate accessed: March 1, 2020 Google Scholar ,3 Academy of Medical Royal CollegesAdvice on supporting professional activities in consultant job planning. Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, London2010 Google Scholar Adequate time for SPAs alongside DCC is therefore crucial for NHS consultants to maintain excellence in clinical care. 3 Academy of Medical Royal CollegesAdvice on supporting professional activities in consultant job planning. Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, London2010 Google Scholar