Day two - workstreams
Work stream: Leadership – show me the evidence!
Chair: Prof Judy Mckimm, Dean of Medical Education, College of Medicine, Swansea University
FMLM has made much of the research that links good leadership with positive clinical outcomes. FMLM partnered with Professor Michael West to review the literature on this topic. This work and other studies were discussed with a view to recommending how best to use the findings to improve outcomes.
Work stream: Managing risk – One version of the truth
Chair: Prof Gordon Dickson, Chief Executive, Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland
Does managing risk mean losing sleep or can you be wise before the event rather than after it? This session looked at the personal and professional responsibility around managing risk: how to react when concerns are raised, the differences between what is said and what actually happens in clinical risk, and the difficult issues many face in addressing risk-related issues at Board level.
Work stream: Practical steps to change culture
Chair: Ms Karen Lynas, Interim Deputy Managing Director and Head of Delivery, NHS Leadership Academy
The Francis Report, among many recommendations, highlighted problems with the culture of the NHS. Negative features include bullying, a lack of transparency and a lack of compassion. Changing culture is easy to demand but is complex to achieve in practice and cannot be addressed by ‘quick fixes’. This work stream explored the issues raised by the report and made recommendations on action that FMLM can take.
Work stream: Medical leaders: set up to fail?
Chair: Vijaya Nath, Assistant Director, Leadership Directorate, The King’s Fund
It could be argued that medical leadership has evolved as an amateur sport. There is more to be done with regards to succession planning. There is a lack of systematic development and standards of medical leadership and resources. Terms and conditions are inconsistent and often inadequate. Revalidation and the recession have raised the stakes considerably. Doctors should be well equipped to play a major role in the challenges we currently face, how are those who are currently doing this supported? FMLM, with the depth and size of its rapidly growing membership and its links to all UK medical royal colleges and faculties should play a pivotal role - but how?
Standards of medical leadership
Chair: Miss Clare Marx, Member of Council, Royal College of Surgeons of England
FMLM is committed to defining standards across all tiers of leadership within medical careers, with a number of high-profile national reports calling for ‘professionalisation’ of leadership in healthcare. This session discussed how professionalisation will help individual leaders and employing organisations better understand what is expected across the large range of medical leadership roles.