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Flexibility is the key word

North Manchester General Hospital, Delaunays Road, Crumpsall, Manchester M8 5RB

I have followed with interest the debate on the changing role of the consultant psychiatrist, and the difficulties in recruitment and retention. Over the past 6 months, there have been editorials, opinion articles, correspondence and a recent study by Mears et al (Psychiatric Bulletin, April 2004, 28, 13-131) about different aspects of this debate. The Royal College, the British Medical Association and the General Medical Council are all debating how to reflect these pressures by changing consultant roles. I agree with Professor Appleby that flexibility is the key word (Psychiatric Bulletin, April 2004, 28, 113).

As a specialist registrar, I have watched consultants and trusts struggle to provide safe, effective services within constrained budgets. Compared with a training post, a substantive post brings with it not just increased clinical work and responsibility, but also extra roles in management and teaching. On top of this, individuals have to fit in a healthy work-life balance.

During training, I decided that sectorised jobs involved too many competing demands. I opted to work only with in-patients as a part-time consultant. Unfortunately, many trusts that I approached for jobs struggled to accommodate this style of working.

I have been able to take advantage of an opportunity offered by National Health Service professionals. I started in February on the New Consultant Entry Scheme, which offers a 6 month trial with support, mentoring and extra continuing professional development time. There have been teething problems but the chance to try out newer ways of working on a trial basis seemed less risky than committing to a substantive job only to walk away.

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