The Royal College of Physicians’ (RCP) pioneering chief registrar pilot scheme is hosting 10 junior doctors who will join acute trust teams at the helm of medical services across the country.
Launched in April, with a second intake due to commence in August 2016, the initial cohort comprises of 10 chief registrars at eight different trusts in England:
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals
- Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Gloucestershire NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust
- London North West Healthcare NHS Trust
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- East Kent NHS Foundation Trust
- Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The newly appointed chief registrars will take up the post for 2 days per week, remaining in their substantive roles within medical workforce in the remaining 3 days, for their 12-18 month tenure. In doing so, the chief registrar will act as bridge between junior doctors and senior clinical decision makers, communicating the interests of frontline medical staff and doctors in training.
By supporting the chief of medicine or medical director, the new role will oversee training, workload and deployment of all medical, and some non-medical staff, as well as facilitating the delivery of trust strategy and advocating the principles derived from the Future Hospital Commission and Programme pilot sites.
Future Hospital Commission report
The project was borne out of recommendations from the 2013 Future Hospital Commission report, endorsing enhanced input from junior doctors to improve the coordination and delivery of care.
Evidence detailed within the ground breaking report demonstrated that empowering physicians in effective medical leadership and management, can positively influence patient outcomes, staff fulfilment and motivation, and organisational performance.
Supported by a bespoke RCP and Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM)-led development programme, the role enables junior doctors to gain experience of leadership at the highest level, as well as driving vital quality improvement initiatives.
Jane Dacre, president of the RCP said:
In the midst of the difficulties faced by the NHS, it is essential that our doctors in training are not only valued but also have their voices heard by the organisations that they serve. The Future Hospital chief registrar project provides a platform from which change can be effected and supported within our trusts, by the very people who experience life on the medical front line every day.
The chief registrar project is clear testament to the RCP’s continuing commitment to valuing trainees as a vital part of the medical workforce.
Gerrard Phillips, vice president for education and training and clinical lead of the chief registrar project said:
The chief registrar project is one of the jewels in the crown of the RCP Future Hospital Programme, and provides invaluable opportunities to share and disseminate learning gained across the Programme.
For trusts, it is an opportunity to improve rota management, patient safety and quality of experience as well as the education, training and morale of the workforce. In doing so, I hope that this will galvanise junior doctors to becoming influential leaders and innovators in their organisations.
For more information about how to participate in the chief registrar project, or to apply as a chief registrar candidate, please contact the Future Hospital Programme team on futurehospital@rcplondon.ac.uk.
