CLINICAL MEDICAL ELECTIVE AT MOORFIELDS EYE HOSPITALInternational Health Elective by Michael Ellis, MS4

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

Capital city and largest population in England at over 8.5 million people in 2014 with a metropolitan area close to 14 million

Diversity of over 300 languages spoken

Largest industry is finance and is known as the most important location for global finance

MOORFIELDS EYE HOSPITAL

Oldest and largest centre for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in Europe

Original hospital opened in 1805 Many soldiers returning

from the Napoleonic wars with Trachoma, influenced by Astley Cooper

Present site since 1899

HOSPITAL HISTORY

Fun Fact: Bashar al-Assad trained at Moorfields to become a ophthalmologist before his days as President of Syria

Commemoration to Moorfields over the yearsSide entrance to Moorfields

MEDICAL TRAINING IN THE UK

Accepted after “A levels” around age 18

Most are 6 year programs 2 year general medicine

internship completed post-graduate in the NHS

Most specialties 7 year residency after internship Match into “areas” of England

rather than schools Match process includes one

interview in which candidates are ranked

Candidates then submit a list of preference for areas and are awarded based on their rank

WHY WOULD YOUNG DOCTOR’S STRIKE?

Government is changing contracts during their employment

Young doctors currently have a base salary and get extra pay for working unsociable hours (eg. nights, weekends)

Government wants a 7-day NHS

New contract extends normal working hours until 9 pm during the week and makes Saturday 7am-5pm normal working hours

WHY WOULD YOUNG DOCTOR’S STRIKE?

Base pay to increase by 11%, why would they strike?

Extension of normal working hours means roughly a 50% fall in extra pay

Overall, young doctors expect about 30% less money with the new contract and are afraid there will be more hours because of the removal of unsociable hours from nights and Saturdays

WHAT WILL THESE TRAINEES DO?

Young doctors do not stay in the NHS choosing to go abroad, into pharmaceuticals or even careers outside of medicine altogether

Other popular options include looking for jobs in Medicine in Australia or the USA

THE STRIKE

Some polls report that 90% of young doctors would quit the NHS

Polls report roughly 50% of the public support the strikes

Government imposed the new contracts after the Strike on Feb 12, 3 more strikes have subsequently been planned

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Case discussions by world renown expert on medical retina, Dr. Alan Bird

Presented retina cases that had been referred to him by retina specialists from around the world

Cases included pathology not yet described in literature

Welcome sign at Moorfields

CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Moorfields Academy Meeting

Presentations on young doctors’ strike in the NHS, exams to get into residency, medical student poetry and a presentation by ex-ABC news anchor Touched on the “murky”

messages portrayed by the media

PICTURES

Moorfields Eye Hospital Historical Exhibit

ICONIC LONDON PICTURES

Buckingham Palace Big Ben

ICONIC PARIS PICTURES

Mona Lisa at the Louvre Eiffel Tower

REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London http://www.moorfields.nhs.uk/content/our-

history http://www.theweek.co.uk/65579/junior-

doctors-strike-walkout-called-off-at-the-last-minute

http://www.theweek.co.uk/68215/junior-doctors-launch-three-strikes-and-a-legal-challenge