Monday, 19 September 2011
I spent the weekend travelling to Buenos Aires for the
15th World Congress of the World Psychiatric
Association. En route to Argentina, I was given a timely reminder
of the ever-increasing demands on the curriculum by a colleague in
Manchester who runs the local Sexual Assault Referral Centre
(SARC). Following publication of the government’s strategic vision
to end
violence against women and girls, work has started on
curriculum-mapping and development for all staff – which of course
includes psychiatrists.
Juggling these demands on the curriculum will be a task for our
next Dean. We need to think about bringing many core common
elements together, as they apply to all psychiatrists across all
stages of their careers. Shared learning would be better learning,
as each specialty brings with it its unique knowledge and skills.
As you know, elections for a new Dean are taking place at the
moment and I urge all Members to take part and register their
vote.
At the meeting of Council last Friday Dr Owen
Bowden-Jones, the chair of our Faculty of Addictions Psychiatry,
said he is hearing of yet more cuts to and closure of addictions
services. He will shortly be sending a survey about this out to
Members, and I ask you to please respond with any information you
have. Dr Adrian James, chair of our Westminster Parliamentary
Liaison Committee, and Will Pickering, our Public Affairs Manager,
will be raising our concerns about the demise of addictions
services at all three party conferences over the next three
weeks.
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