Dear All,

Please find below the minutes of the last CAT meeting. It was really  good to see some of the juniors there contributing to the issues in  the region - thanks for coming, and I hope to see you all at the next  meeting. I will try to publicise these meetings and any socials a bit  earlier in the future - it was suggested we should set out a diary for  the next year.......

Amy Thomas (new Sec) has surpassed herself and written these minutes  within 24 hours of the meeting. I sense a new degree of efficiency to  CAT!!  Thanks Amy.

If any of you who could not attend the meeting have any queries or  comments please contact me.

Thanks

Michael

SHEFFIELD CAT MEETING 10TH FEB 2010 8pm

WESTEND PUB

CHAIR: M Moncreiff (MM)

Present: M Moncreiff,  S Moss, D Miller, A Leeson, C Noons, S Jinks, C  Holgate, O Matezko, H Roberts, H Findley, S Parkinson, Z Harclerode, N  Jena, M Walters, J Garrod, A Thomas

APOLOGIES:P Bonnett, C Ball.

Items discussed.

Welcome to the incoming CAT secretary Amy Thomas, many thanks to Matt  Smith who has done us proud for the last 2 years.

*A CAT treasurer is needed to take over from Rich Porter. The role is not time consuming and involves keeping tabs on the CAT bank account.  Volunteers to contact MM.

*PICU cover at the children’s hospital until August 2010

Gaps in the Paediatric SPR rota have left night cover for PICU  lacking. Normally there would be 2 Paeds regs looking after the  11  level 3 and 11 level 2 beds at night. Failed recruitment and sickness  mean they are down to 1 reg at night until August . Dr Dorman has conceded that the Anaesthetic  SPR on nights at SCH will help out only  after any work in theatre is complete. Dr Dorman is trying to arrange  a week of training days on PICU per 3 month block and this may  increase our training opportunities with sick children. The arrangement is only temporary and will come under close review by CAT  and Dr Dorman. H Findley confirmed there had been PICU induction for  the current registrars.

Feedback to CAT please with how it is working.

*Primary FRCA teaching in Sheffield.

There was a general concensus that the anatomy teaching was brilliant  by Sam Jacob, and a few very good lecturers. Members felt that the  course had an identity crises however, delivering osce revision to  candidates concentrating on the mcq paper. There was debate whether Sheffield should be more like the Mersey mcq crammer course, but most  trainees felt they could revise like this in their spare time and  liked lectures/interactive sessions.

Most trainees felt that it would be a good idea to send a topic list  from the primary (and final) syllabus to each college tutor to help  inspire, and deliver more exam focused Friday teaching in each  hospital.  Good topic ideas from those peri-primary to email MM.

MM explained that Regional teaching is deliberately not Exam based.

There was concern that the Sheffield Primary course is not always  run for every sitting of the exam,  but D Miller reported that his  study leave for out of region Primary courses were supported by STH.

*Teaching

There is still a problem with poorly advertised, infrequent teaching  in the central hospitals.

Many trainees have been on solo lists/not released or not even aware  of RHH/NGH “protected teaching”.  In DGHs the oncall trainees are  covered for Friday teaching and there was disappointment that this  could not be organised centrally. If you are not being released/ missing teaching etc please contact your College tutor ASAP so that  they can address the issue - don't leave it til the placement ends.  Make a note of dates as evidence!

Dr Webber wanted to draw CAT’s attention to the fact Tue ITU teaching  at the RHH is poorly attended with few trainees presenting. Again  there are multiple rota issues explaining poor numbers but we do need  to keep up our end of the bargain by attending and participating in teaching offered. CAT to explore whether more trainees are around   Wednesdays/Thursday .

*Final Viva course

A big thanks to the fresh enthusiasm shown for the final course by  Sumayer, Sean and Paddy. They have asked for CATs feedback re:  questions and the viva course. CAT agreed feedback should be emailed  directly to Paddy Knowles by trainees who have done finals -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Evening viva practice around Charlie and Liz Coopers kitchen table has  become an institution in Sheffield. CAT was left meeeeeeeeeewing in  pain at the news that the Coopers would like to hand on the baton. MM  is to contact the Coopers to find out if/when they intend to retire  from the free evening viva courses.

*EMAILS

To get an up-to-date email address for all our members the following  trainees will be checking in with you soon

Rotherham- C. Noons Barnsley-S.Moss   Chesterfield-TBC

Doncaster- M.Moncreiff NGH-Olena/H Roberts SCH-H Findley

RHH-A.Thomas

*Locum payments  months overdue

There is a wide spread problem with locum shift payment across the  region.  There seems to be a new centralized spreadsheet that is  slowing the process. MM will help sort anyone who has outstanding  problems. Please email him with details.

*Mentor system from August

Credit to H.Roberts who is developing a mentoring scheme for trainees  new to anaesthesia/and or the region. Trainees will be allocated a  mentor who can tell them from “where on earth they should park for  DRI” to “places best to drink” and, of course, lend support if they  have had a bad day. There was discussion of possibly starting a  'family' system whereby everyone will have a mentor in the year above.  Interested parties should contact H Roberts (at the NGH).

*DRI Rota

MM is to liaise with DRI’s rota organizer to implement a compliant  rota template. It’s acknowledged the current system of 1st come first  served to the a/l diary has benefits, but can seem unfair and doesn’t  lend to planning ahead, especially as the rota is only published 1  month at a time with 2 weeks notice. ” Girl Friday” would like to  second this motion.

*The CAT SUMMER BALL

This year’s summer ball will be 17th July to avoid holiday season and  exams. The theme is the Laryngeal Masquerade Ball. Dress code: Wear  something smart and a cool mask!

H.Roberts has organized Baldwins Omega for  120 PLACES MAX, this is to  avoid making a loss. We need to turn a profit to make up for our debt  last year.

Tickets approx 45 quid and hopefully on sale next month!! Save the  date posters on their way soon!

We need everyone to buy tickets and to encourage other staff to come..  ODPS/consultants/nursing and ITU staff.

Funny stories/ nominations for awards needed!!!!!  Past awards include  “shit magnet odp”, “worst transfer”, “best lycra”. Get thinking.

Email any thoughts/nomibnations/stories to MM.

Anyone willing to help out please contact H Roberts.

*Naked Calendar

An idea for fund raising was proposed! A calendar of naked consultants  from around the region with tastefully placed props was considered.

CAT felt that people would be unlikely to volunteer unless it was  partially for charity. The charity has yet to be decided. Hopefully an  August to August calendar would be achievable.  Trainees to look for  willing consultants around the region….

*Summer BBQ with cricket

CAT will need volunteers nearer the time to organize this event.

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