Hoping the sweet chariot comes off its wheels tomorrow

Ahead of a key game for Wales in the Six Nations, as Warren Gatland’s men prepare to take on England, I just want to wish our team all the best, hopefully replicating last week’s success against Scotland in our own back yard, the Millennium Stadium.

It seems at the moment that there isn’t much to smile about, what with the almost daily news of job losses and Britain sinking further into recession. So, this Championship couldn’t have come at a better time really providing us with a reason to be cheerful. And if England’s sweet chariot comes to a grinding halt on Saturday evening, it will undoubtedly lift our spirits for a while at least!

CALL for help about the economic downturn

Good to see the Welsh Assembly Government recognising the impact the credit crunch could potentially be having on our health and well-being. I‘ve heard from some members who’re seeing more cases of patients coming to them about anxiety and stress issues, with money worries being at the forefront of most people’s minds.

The WAG has set up C.A.L.L. (Community Advice and Listening Line) which doctors may wish to suggest to anyone they see struggling to cope with financial pressures.

CALL is accessible via a freephone number – 0800 132 737, or by texting ‘help’ to 81066

Tenovous Cancer bus providing a much needed service

Tenovous’ mobile cancer unit or cancer ‘bus’ as it’s now becoming known, is, I think, a great idea and a really practical way of trying to help cancer sufferers. By taking support and advice out on the road, it should go along way towards helping the charity reach people who may not know about, or be able to access Tenovous’ services. Even if it’s just having someone to talk to, or getting some financial advice during treatment for cancer. More information and dates and locations the bus is visiting follow this link - http://www.tenovus.com/busBlog/

Your chance to find out more about the workings of the BMA Welsh Council

We're inviting BMA members to come along to future Welsh council meetings, to get a flavour for the committee's work. The council is setting up a visitors’ scheme to give members more of an idea of how issues are debated and hopefully, to try and get more doctors involved in medico-political activities. Dates for the next couple are below.

March 11, May 18 and October 14.

For venues and more information, please contact Sarah Ellmes on (029) 2047 4604, email: sellmes@bma.org.uk.

Hope to see some of you reading this, at one of the meetings!

Time's running out for Staff-grade Doctors who want to apply for Re-grading to Associate Specialist

The Welsh Staff and Associate Specialists Committee would like to remind doctors that the window of opportunity for re-grading to associate specialist level closes on the 31st March, 2009.

Raj Nirula, Chair of the Welsh Staff and Associate Specialists Committee, says
"The benefits to Trusts of regrading are numerous and far outweigh the small cost involved. Not only will it ensure maintenance of a high quality service and the retention of experienced, highly skilled senior medical staff but it will ultimately help improve the quality of patient care.

"We hope that all Clinical Directors and others within Trusts throughout Wales will take positive action by recognising and rewarding this valuable group of doctors. It is important that they receive the regrading that they deserve. The BMA’s WSASC urges all Trusts and employing authorities to regrade to associate specialist all those staff grade doctors and others that are already performing at the level of associate specialist."

Only applications received on or before the 31st March will be considered and those that are successful will have their pay backdated to the date of application.

Further guidance on the re-grading process is available to BMA members at http://www.bma.org.uk/wa/employmentandcontracts/employmentcontracts/regrading/SASCRegrade.jsp