NHS plans to deploy ‘Dad’s Army’ of retired doctors if Covid-19 spreads

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Northerner

Northerner

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Former health professionals could be brought out of retirement under emergency plans being considered by the government to combat the spread of coronavirus.

News of the potential “Dad’s army” deployment comes as NHS bosses warn that the service will struggle if Covid-19 takes hold in Britain.

Yesterday a further three people in England tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the UK to 23. Two of the patients had recently travelled back from Italy, while the other had returned from Asia, according to the chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty.

The three cases – in Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Berkshire – are being investigated, and any individuals who had contact with them are being traced.

www.theguardian.com

NHS plans to deploy ‘Dad’s Army’ of retired doctors if Covid-19 spreads

Government pandemic preparation plans to include ‘war room’ of experts
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

Right, so recruit the age group most vulnerable to severe consequences from the virus to have the greatest contact? Have you had the call yet @mikeyB? 😱
 
I also wonder how this will work as to keep my registration I would have had to done study, and 300 hours of practice over 3 years. I have ex colleagues who have recently let their registrations lapse as they were not working enough hours on the hospital bank to maintain. Plus we had to pay fees to keep on the register.
 
I get the feeling that it is yet another looks good on paper exercise.
 
This is really scary, and one wonders where it will go. I live in Scotland where there are no cases yet.
 
Coronavirus is a lot less scary than the idea of Mikeyb turning up at your bedside in his chariot and poking you with his elbow cruch.
 
There were already retired doctors working in the nhs. The second cardiologist I was under had already retired when I was passed onto him.
I wonder how widespread this is.
 
I understand the dads army shorthand for an idea but it does ignore that a large percentage of retired doctors are women :confused:

We sometimes have retired GPs doing locum work at our surgery with mixed results (not usually with medical issues but with process of onward treatment if they’re not regulars at the surgery). I figure any doctors who still want to be working and are capable would pick up bank work already so I don’t know that there are that many suitable candidates floating around.
 
I believe that if two of my former male GPs had not reired in the past 3 years, I would have remained with my previous practice as they were both terrific no nonsensen doctors.,
 
Robin said:
My GP just retired, I’m sure she was looking forward to a long break, not being press ganged into returning!
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It's not as though the government have engendered a lot of goodwill over the past decade - a lot of doctors and nurses left the profession early because of the working conditions, so it would be interesting to know what sort of pool the government are expecting to draw on. I know personally I would not go back to jobs I left in the past because of the working conditions :(
 
mikeyB said:
I’m no longer licenced to practice medicine. The GMC don't know where I live, so I’m safe from any begging letters. For sure, I don’t need or want the money, HMRC know where I live😎
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Unfortunately though I am no longer registered with NMC, I have lived at the same address since the 80s. I did have letter a few years ago about returning to practice, I just threw it in the bin.
 
Well, we're going to have 50,000 new nurses and 6,000 new doctors by the end of this parliament, so I suppose they must already be up to a few hundred at least by now 🙄 😉
 
Northerner said:
It's not as though the government have engendered a lot of goodwill over the past decade - a lot of doctors and nurses left the profession early because of the working conditions, so it would be interesting to know what sort of pool the government are expecting to draw on. I know personally I would not go back to jobs I left in the past because of the working conditions :(
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I heard some HCP talking about agency's. One was considering leaving the hospital (as 'regular staff) and doing agency instead. Cause of the money.
If there is more money for these returners I wonder if that will attract some retirees.
 
It is not as simple as if their relevant registrations, CRB checks, and updates, are not in place. I have been reading today that some people with relevant skills are not been allowed to do things when moving to new trusts till they have had the new trusts training.
 
if anybody is in any doubts about the severity of this virus they should watch this.
my take on this thread,they would be better putting the retired doctors and nurses on manning the 111 network.
and get all our young healthy medical students on the hospital wards
,if they have a question they can then call a retired 111 expert on a direct line

 
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