What will we have to cope with next? I have just received the following challenging accounts of their lives from two doctors:
The GP
As a 36 year old mother of two and active member of the local Baptist church, what is on my mind as a GP, and leader of a practice based commissioning consortium? It's:
- How do I wisely guide my group of GPs in redesigning clinical pathways?
- How do I cope with a tough staff appraisal next week?
- How can I best help my daughter struggling with dyslexia?
- How can I develop further my worship leading skills?
- How do we change the doctors' rota to offer more late appointments?
- How can I make more time in my day to have a decent quiet time with God?
- How do I fit in enough time to keep fit? Etc etc!
The consultant
In the same week a hospital consultant spoke to me of the additional pressures he faces as he struggles to meet government targets in his significant daily clinical workload. He also has many administrative responsibilities including programme director with responsibility for MTAS, and is concerned for juniors who are struggling to find a post.
Within his department he has management responsibilities as clinical lead, and responsibility for student teaching as medical school lead. Within his directorate he handles the night service and junior doctor rotas, and he has an ongoing research project.
He has had no secretary for four months due to sickness leave (management have failed to resolve the problem) and has to walk around the department trying to find his post. His wife has been unwell, they have builders in their home, they host a church home group and help with the children's work. It is their intention to start holding CMF meetings in their home!
I have also heard
from various members who have just started a job they love, who are still enjoying the post they've held for the past 15 years, who are thrilled with ministry opportunities in church that have recently opened up, who are encouraged to see that they can make a difference in a management responsibility they have recently taken on, who are enjoying writing or being active in the BMA, who are discovering that God can use them in their routine work, whose lives have been changed by a short term commitment abroad, and so on.
Autumn conferences
We all need support through challenging times and isolation can be very damaging for the Christian. Through this autumn, many local and regional groups will be looking at what is distinctive about the Christian doctor in the light of the challenges we face in the NHS, and in the light of life in Britain today, and what we in CMF are trying to do about it. There will also be CMF conferences looking at:
- Hope in the Midst of Mayhem - Juniors
- Christians under Pressure - Scotland
- Will your Anchor Hold? - Northern
- The Place of Forgiveness in Healing - Psychiatrists
- The Christian and Mental Healthcare - Midlands
- Retyred but not retired - Retirees
- and five Saline Solution conferences exploring how we can share our faith appropriately in the workplace.
Dates are on page 8 and details available at www.cmf.org.uk
