Foreword
Professor Emma Watson
Executive Medical Director, NES
Welcome to this December edition of your Deanery newsletter.
We are approaching midwinter, and this brings not only the shortest day but festivities with so much pressure to be cheery and to enjoy ourselves. So it is with no apology, we are revisiting wellbeing, and particularly your wellbeing. In the newsletter we detail what is available. Self-care is very important, and it is important to remember you can’t care for others if you are not caring for yourself.
This newsletter has an interesting and varied content - we hope you dip in and out of it over the next few weeks
We hope the launch of our new Out of Programme App will help resident doctors navigate this process. We recognise that taking time out of programme can be needed for a variety of reasons and it is essential you feel supported. We have included an item which explains the process and gives more information on this important option for doctors.
The next item share information on a new team which is working with schools and universities to support the growth of school leavers who wish to study medicine or have a career in health more generally. Over the past few years we have seen a decline in the number of applicants to to train in medicine or nursing and we are hoping to reverse that trend.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 will require you—as part of NHS Scotland—to take decisive steps to integrate children’s rights into every aspect of healthcare. This Act makes the UNCRC legally binding, meaning everyone must uphold children’s rights across all practices, policies, and decision-making processes. The responsibility extends beyond frontline services and applies equally to adult and non-clinical services. This article discusses how you can meet these obligations.
The rural grand rounds were established after a discussion between a couple of rural doctors who felt it would be helpful to share learning and interesting cases between the rural general hospitals. This group has now met several times in general hospitals and the article discusses how these now form a component of the regular teaching schedule for several of the participating rural hospitals. In the article you will find a link that takes you to the schedule and with details of how to join a session – if you are curious about working in rural Scotland why not have a look and join an event!
The next item gives information on the new eLearning Module on Menstrual Health. This module was recently published and is available now on Turas Learn: Menstrual Health Module This resource is free to access and open to all practitioners in Scotland.
Following on the growing success of the 2024 conference, NES is delighted to confirm that it will once again be hosting the conference online over two days in April 2025: Thursday 24 and Friday 25. The closing date for open paper and poster abstract submissions is 9 February 2025. NHS Education for Scotland sponsor the conference, and there will be no charge for participation. Further details on the programme and how to register will follow in early 2025.
For any queries please contact nes.conference@nhs.scot or visit Events
As 2024 draws to a close it is important to reflect on what a busy year it has been and how much you have achieved as individuals and in your teams. The threat of industrial action that loomed over the summer, the significant challenges in care delivery must be balanced with knowing how much you do to improve the lives of others every day – thank you.
I hope you take some time off over the next few weeks and use it as time recharge and refocus for 2025.
I hope you enjoy this edition.
If you have work you would like to highlight in this newsletter, contact Scotland Deanery.
Professor Emma Watson
Executive Medical Director, NHS Education for Scotland
Professor Emma Watson
Executive Medical Director, NES