WhoWho isis whowho inin thethe NHS NHS

–– RolesRoles andand ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities+ Working as a Doctor in the UK

Grzegorz Chodkowski (MD)Grzegorz Chodkowski (MD)

Riga, Radisson SAS

2009

Who is Who :Doctors

Different types and grades of Doctors, vary considerably from one NHS Trust to another.

Additionally private hospitals often have a different hierarchy altogether compared to

the NHS.

Medical students

Join the medical staff, on placement to different departments throughout their training

Hous Officer (HO)

A position held by a doctor who has completed 2 years of the foundation programme

Senior House Officers (SHO)

Receive intensive support and training in the few weeks of their role. This can also

include seminars and weekend induction courses. Additionally they can receive X-ray

courses. Their education is continued throughout their six month attachment, including

lectures, discussions, practical skills etc.. Each SHO has an educational supervisor and

they have formal appraisal at 4 or 5 weeks and again at 4 to 5 months. Some hospitals

request that an SHO completes a cycle of audit, presents a case report and appraises a

journal article.

Clinical Fellows

They share the middle grade rota and are involved in the supervision of SHOs. They

have an educational supervisor and have sessions for research and training. Where

possible they are encouraged to attend relevant courses and regional Specialist

Registrar’s teaching sessions.

Specialist Registrar (SpR)

Their training is tailored to their individual needs. They have regular training days and

are given the time for research and audits. They have regular management days and

are given the opportunity to shadow one of the Consultants.

Staff Grades

Are encouraged to attend relevant courses and have set training sessions at regular

intervals. They also have yearly appraisals.

Associate Specialist

A senior position where the holder is responsible to a named consultant.

Associate Specialists must have at least 10 years' experience since registration

but are not required to have a higher qualification and do not proceed to

consultant level.

CONSULTANT

The most senior position held by physicians or surgeons with the highest

qualifications, e.g. FRCS, MRCP, and who have completed a programme of

higher specialist training. *Note that Consultants and Specialist Registrars who

are surgeons drop the title Dr and are addressed as Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss.

DoctorsDoctors andand SurgeonsSurgeons

DIRECTOR OF NURSING SERVICES

The most senior position in nursing administration.

MATRON

A senior sister accountable for a group of wards.

SENIOR NURSE (RGN trained)

A senior management position.

DEPARTMENTAL SISTER

A senior position for a nurse with experience and either SRN or RGN (three years' training).

WARD SISTER

A qualified and experienced nurse with overall responsibility for a ward, normally RGN trained.

STAFF NURSE

First post for a SRN/RGN qualified nurse.

REGISTERED MIDWIFE (RM)

Qualified Professional who cares for mother and infant (often also a RGN)

NursesNurses

NURSE SPECIALIST (RGN trained)

A nurse with specialist expertise in education and support for particular groups of

patients, e.g. those with kidney transplants, cancer or diabetes.

REGISTERED MENTAL NURSE (RMN)

Nurse who cares for patient with mental health problems, some of whom are

also RGN trained as well.

Tissue Viability Nurse/Clinical Nurse Specialist

RGN, who has had extensive training in conditions of the skin, such as prevention

and treatment of pressure areas to the dressings required for leg ulcers etc..

Colostomy Nurse/Clinical Nurse Specialist

RGN, with extended training in care of colostomies.

NURSING AUXILIARY/NURSING ASSISTANT(NA)

Untrained nursing assistants, who can now take some qualifications, known as

NVQs. Which means National Vocational Qualifications. These focus on practical

skills.

Other NHS Staff

Hospital Play Specialist

Lead playful activities and use play as a therapeutic tool.

Learning Disability Nurse

Works with people with learning disabilities, to enable them to become as independent as

possible

Housekeeper

Managers a range of services on the ward, including cleaning, catering and linen.

Music Therapist

Facilitates interaction and development of insight into patients’ behaviour and emotional

difficulties through music.

Occupational Therapist (OT)

Help people to overcome physical, psychological or social problems arising from illness or

disability, by concentrating on what they are able to achieve, rather than on their

disabilities. They do home visits with the physiotherapist and the patient in question, to

try an adapt their home, to hopefully enable them to live independently again. They can

contact social services who assess the patient and put into place services such as home

helps and care assistants.

Technical Instructor

Assist qualified Occupational Therapists, installing supportive devices in patients’

homes an in the community.

Phlebotomist

Take bloods from the patient for analysis in the laboratories. They cover many

general wards and go around each one, starting in the morning. They take routine

bloods, requested by the Doctors. Further phlebotomists operate clinics near to the

laboratories, where they perform bloods requested by Doctors in the out-patients

clinics. Any specific blood tests required for patients from the wards are all

performed in the clinic, if the patient can walk there or be taken in a wheelchair.

Porter

Move patients between different departments and wards in safety and comfort,

handling any equipment needed for the patient or attached to the patient. Nurses or

Doctors helping to transport patients from one area to another who are in a bed,

must always use a porter. This is a strict guideline outlined in the health an safety

protocol.

Storekeeper

Look after general stock taking and the collection and delivery of stores to wards,

clinics and departments.

Sterile Services Manager

Are responsible for the sterile supplies needed for patient care and for ensuring that

medical equipment is disinfected. They check and refill ward supplies, for example

dressing packs and catheterisation packs.

Speech & Language Therapist

Work with people who have problems with communication, including speech defects,

chewing or swallowing. They work within their own department and work with

patients on the ward.

Ward Clerk

Work under the guidance, supervision and instruction of the Ward Manager an other

qualified staff on a hospital ward.

Dietitian

Work with patient’s to promote nutritional wellbeing, prevent food-related problems

and treat disease. They prescribe nutritional supplements for patients and organise

special diets as required.

Chaplain

They are salaried NHS employees, ministering both to patients and to NHS staff. There

is a small chapel in every hospital, where services take place.

Emergency Medical Dispatcher

Deal with urgent calls to the Ambulance service and help to mobilise and control Accident

and Emergency vehicles

Paramedic

The senior members of accident and emergency ambulance crews, trained for two years in

all aspects of pre-hospital emergency care an in emergency driving.

Ambulance Technician

Assist paramedics in accident and emergency work

Ambulance Care Assistance

Transport non-emergency patients to and from hospital.

Pharmacist

Experts in drugs and medicine, involved in all aspects of their use, preparation, discovery

and development and the monitoring of effects. Along with the pharmacy technician they

check ward stocks of drugs.

Pharmacy Technician

Prepare and deliver drugs, store incoming drugs and make up sterile preparations.

Podiatrist/Chiropodist

Specialise in the lower limb and foot. For example diabetics receive foot care from

them, having nails cut etc…

Health Record Staff

Collate, organise, retrieve and archive patient or client records.

Medical Physicist

Use their scientific knowledge in such treatments as supervising the dose of radiation

to treat a cancer tumour or developing techniques such as x-ray and nuclear medicine.

Respiratory Physiology Technician

RPTs perform a wide range of investigations to aid in the diagnosis of any respiratory

disorders, such as asthma an emphysema.

Radiologist

Doctors who work in the medical specialities of Clinical Radiology (diagnostic imaging)

and Clinical Oncology.

Radiographer Assistant

Assist qualified Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiographers.

Therapeutic Radiographers

Specialists in cancer treatment, through high doses of radiation.

Prosthetist

Provide artificial limb replacements for patients born without them and those who lost

them through trauma or surgery.

* Please note this list is not exhaustive and other roles exist within the NHS, they

can be found on www.nhs.uk

Important Issues

• Career Pathway

• Dress Code

• Communication with Patients

• Personal and legal accountability

Dress Code

NHS Dress Code

"bare below the elbows"

Summary• Hair: clean, worn off the face and shoulders

• No jewellery (bracelets, necklaces, charity bands) for: clinical, catering and domestic staff

Only plain wedding rings allowed.

• No wrist watches when performing clinical duties.

Fob watch is an alternative ehen appropriate.

• Exposing body artwork should be avoided

• Denim clothing and fashion garments with excessivezip, belts, chains etc is not recommended

• Footwear should fit to the type of duties performed

• Nails must be kept clean and short.No nail polish or false nail.

• No unconventional hairstyles or colouring and make –up

should be discreet and avoid extremes of fashion

• Personal Protective Equipment e.g gloves, eyewear etc.

All staff must comply with:

1) Health and Safety Policies

2) COSHH legislation

3) Infection Control Policy and Procedures

4) Food Hygiene Legislation

Summary

Identification Badges

How to Identify Staff

All staff wear identification badges.

If you are not sure who a member of staff is, ask to see their badge.Your medical care will be managedby an expert team headed by a Consultant. Youmay not always see your Consultant but you can be sure that you will receive the best possible care at alltimes. The team caring for you during your stay maybe made up of nursing staff, medical staff, physiotherapists, radiographers, dieticians, wardclerks - the list is endless. You may meet some or allduring your stay, but if you are not sure whosomebody is - ASK .

ThankThank YouYou!!

AnyAny QuestionsQuestions??