On a career in medical management - Royal College of Psychiatrists
On a career in medical management - Royal College of Psychiatrists
On a career in medical management - Royal College of Psychiatrists
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This <strong>in</strong>formation guide is <strong>in</strong>tended for a consultant psychiatrist consider<strong>in</strong>g tak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
up a <strong>management</strong> role. The <strong>in</strong>formation can be used as a guide only and is not a<br />
substitute for pr<strong>of</strong>essional advice. If you need further advice and support, please<br />
contact the <strong>Psychiatrists</strong>’ Support Service or one <strong>of</strong> the organisations listed at<br />
the end <strong>of</strong> this <strong>in</strong>formation guide.<br />
Doctors can and should be <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the <strong>management</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> the NHS at all levels, for they are the most appropriate<br />
group for the task.<br />
Anthony E. Young<br />
From its <strong>in</strong>ception, the National Health Service has <strong>in</strong>volved<br />
doctors <strong>in</strong> leadership and <strong>management</strong>; pr<strong>of</strong>essional managers<br />
have always needed the cl<strong>in</strong>ical help and expertise <strong>of</strong><br />
doctors. The skills <strong>of</strong> a psychiatrist are pert<strong>in</strong>ent to this role:<br />
our cl<strong>in</strong>ical skills are needed to understand the needs <strong>of</strong> the<br />
population and we are comfortable deal<strong>in</strong>g with systems and<br />
groups.<br />
Why do it?<br />
There are many reasons why psychiatrists choose to become<br />
<strong>in</strong>volved with <strong>management</strong>:<br />
some naturally enjoy leadership roles and political<br />
environments and seek out these roles and responsibilities<br />
some become dissatisfied with managers not tak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to<br />
account doctors’ views <strong>in</strong> mental health services, but<br />
<strong>in</strong>stead <strong>of</strong> shout<strong>in</strong>g from the sidel<strong>in</strong>es they have chosen to<br />
try to improve this situation by their own <strong>in</strong>volvement<br />
although most psychiatrists concentrate on <strong>in</strong>dividual<br />
patients, centr<strong>in</strong>g their work on the doctor–patient<br />
relationship, others see that the best way <strong>of</strong> improv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the mental health <strong>of</strong> patients is by look<strong>in</strong>g at the whole<br />
population<br />
some psychiatrists have chosen to take another <strong>career</strong> path<br />
as they have become bored, frustrated or tired <strong>of</strong> cl<strong>in</strong>ical<br />
work<br />
others have a specific reason, for example personal development,<br />
champion<strong>in</strong>g their own services, f<strong>in</strong>ancial reward.<br />
What is <strong>medical</strong> <strong>management</strong>?<br />
All psychiatrists are <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> <strong>medical</strong> <strong>management</strong> to some<br />
extent. For example, the role <strong>of</strong> a cl<strong>in</strong>ical leader with<strong>in</strong> a<br />
multidiscipl<strong>in</strong>ary team uses <strong>management</strong> skills for the whole<br />
population served by that team. However, the more formal<br />
posts are understood slightly differently with<strong>in</strong> each trust: