Psychiatric Bulletin (2000) 24: 154. doi: 10.1192/pb.24.4.154-a
© 2000 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Gahan, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Gahan, A.
Psychiatric Bulletin (2000) 24: 154
© 2000 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Calman reforms

Antony Gahan, Specialist Registrar

Drug Dependency Unit, Homerton Hospital, Homerton Row, London E9 6SR

Sir: I was interested to read Cavanagh & Haut's survey of higher psychiatric trainees to assess satisfaction with changes brought about by the Calman reforms (Psychiatric Bulletin, August 1999, 23, 493-496). The survey uncovered dissatisfaction with the new specialist registrar (SpR) grade, which took the place of the senior registrar (SR) grade in 1996. Little objective evidence was found of differences between the two grades. However, one such difference is that of pay scales. The abolition of the registrar grade has meant that trainees remain on the senior house officer pay scale until they are appointed as SpRs. In addition to this, the SpR scale starts at £23 300, compared with £26 840 on the SR scale, and only reaches the higher figure at the fourth point of the SpR scale. Therefore, rather than the reforms putting "training at the top of the agenda" (Smith, 1994), they could be more cynically viewed as a costcutting exercise. The authors found that more flexibility for time in higher training and restoring the SR title would help to improve morale. Surely restoring SR pay would further contribute to such an improvement.

References

  1. SMITH, R. (1994) Challenging doctors: an interview with England's chief medical officer. British Medical Journal, 308, 1221-1224.[Free Full Text]




This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Gahan, A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Gahan, A.