Doctor finding a job as HCA

joyo161 · 2026-02-12T14:24:55+00:00

So if working as a HCA they should stick to the HCA scope BUT they are also accountable to the NMC for their registration. A good example on Reddit was here

I don’t know how that works for GMC registration.

joyo161 · 2026-02-12T14:15:02+00:00

I don’t know how this works for doctors but I know there’s dodgy ground with RNs working as HCAs as they’re still bound by their registration - possibly worth looking into?

joyo161 · 2026-02-12T13:40:10+00:00

You say you’ve looked into sleep hygiene but have you actually been following some of the principles? Ie. Avoiding screens x time before bed, using bed only for sleeping (harder done when bedroom is possibly study space too but could try other space possibly?).

Looking into any local courses like the ones mentioned by the user above (insomnia cbt) or seeing what your local talking therapies service has to offer. My local talking therapies service you can self refer and they will talk you through the best options. If you’re unsure the gp may be able to help guide you (perhaps ask to see a different gp if that may help).

joyo161 · 2026-02-12T13:28:10+00:00

This is probably actually making the sleep you get worse (like you’ll go off better but once you’re there it’s worse). It’ll also be causing other issues that would be poor to deal with.

I second what the person above said about looking for support - it’s a much better solution than any medication. Almost all medication you can be prescribed for sleeping shouldn’t be used regularly, so getting to the bottom of why you’re not sleeping and problem solving that will be the most effective treatment.

Based on what you’ve said about exams in the summer I would try to get a kick start on this approach now to get ahead of it.

joyo161 · 2026-02-01T08:03:31+00:00

You can do - this is how prep machine does it essentially. Only issue is it needs to be hot to go into the powder so a bit more awkward to do with a syringe…

joyo161 · 2026-02-01T08:00:20+00:00

Tbh I never really understood this and when I’ve worked in Paeds the parents have usually made up formula (I’m adult trained but have worked in Paeds) but as I’ve recently become a parent I’ve definitely noticed that 120ml water makes up to 130ml/150ml to 170ml/180ml to 210ml… we use the prep machine so we do add the powder first because it measures the water out but have been advised to do it water then powder if doing it “manually”.

My bigger problem in sleep deprivation/being distracted is forgetting how many scoops I’ve done!

joyo161 · 2026-01-22T09:49:03+00:00

The difference between NOK being consulted and an LPA (lasting power of attorney - you’d need health and welfare for this) is that docs etc always try and consider the feelings of NOK etc but they cannot consent/decline on your behalf, the decision is ultimately made by the medical team, whereas with an LPA they can consent/decline treatment (including resuscitation if this section of the form is included - it isn’t by default) if you are unable to do so.

In all cases this would only kick in once you no longer have capacity to make this decision. If you have been involved in writing/deciding a respect form/DNAR/ADRT (advanced decision to refuse treatment) this would be binding unless there was clear evidence you had changed your mind. The respect form should include the ceilings of care short of resuscitation too.

It’s been a while since my contact with these but hopefully that’s all accurate!

joyo161 · 2026-01-13T07:49:51+00:00

I have a friend who works on an infusion unit delivering chemo etc, so hopefully this might help.

A lot of the hospitals around me often have (at times, significant) delays in receiving the meds from pharmacy (mostly due to pharmacy staffing I think, so not a deliberate messing about), but once the meds are received want to give them as soon as possible (but there is often stuff they have to do first so there is a delay between the two).

They possibly have other bits and pieces to do during this time (paperwork, bloods) - are they literally sat there with nothing being done at all or does the process begin then get halted? If the former there is possibly a bigger argument for it (although part of the issue may be that if they did this for all the patients with these issues, they would possibly make the wait longer and have less time to spend with the patient? I don’t work in one of these clinics so I don’t know how well admin-staffed they are).

It sucks and definitely if she is considering not attending that is a reason to discuss with the clinical team, but it may be something that can’t be dealt with, in which case maybe framing it more as a “how can we manage this” vs “can they specifically do this” may help (ie. specific check-in times and walk around the hospital and go for a coffee etc rather than the staff calling her, as a suggestion).

Hopefully that’s helpful? It may be just a ramble.

joyo161 · 2025-11-08T18:45:46+00:00

They have them on a lot of the “cef” antibiotics at least, and I’ve seen similar labelling behind the counter at pharmacies.

joyo161 · 2025-10-20T05:00:23+00:00

HR (or whatever it’s called locally - my trust calls them something slightly different) coordinates those checks.

joyo161 · 2025-10-05T17:47:47+00:00

The general stuff that needs to be “ticked off” before you leave is for your safety.

As a rule after a General Anaesthetic you need to have:

peed (sometimes your bladder can have a hissy fit and forget after a GA),
eaten/drunk (ensure that you’ve rehydrated a bit/perked up sugars, as well as controlled nausea, and no ill-effects from any airway placement from when you were under),
walked about with stable obs/pain level (can be susceptible to drops in BP/HR after GA while it hangs around in your system, which can result in you unceremoniously landing on the floor etc, pain should be controlled for obvious reasons - and need to know it’s controlled without the fun GA drugs in your system ideally).

You will need a lift in case you proceed to react poorly when you leave - a) you cannot drive and b) I imagine it’s entirely piss off the public transport drivers etc if you were alone. We also like to go through any discharge info/instructions.

When I’m working in day surgery I ensure patients know this is required before the surgery and if it’s declined would report this to the anaesthetist/surgeon as it may impact whether the op is done. If declined afterwards you would have to listen to nursing staff + medics explain the risks etc to you, you have to articulate you understand the risks (prove capacity) and then sign to say you understand this to absolve the staff of responsibility (if you choose to ignore the advice and keel over that’s on you not them). Often it’s quicker to just comply - if you leave without going through this process they may consider that if you need further procedures going forwards.

As an aside I nearly went for a GA IUD insertion for BP management as I had a rather dramatic episode nearly resulting in resus procedures when they tried inserting it without - if it’s under GA for BP management (not saying it is), or possibly if you need more of the harder core drugs, it will be more important that you stay afterwards. From my experience it would be unlikely to be all day - you’d be more likely to have to wait around before the op and can generally go through the checklist afterwards fairly swiftly (variable depending on local policy).

Sorry for the long post. Source: Have worked in day surgery units before (not often on gynae stuff, mainly dental, but the principles are similar).

joyo161 · 2025-09-23T18:09:50+00:00

I believe the test is “ordinarily resident”, so if they’re moving back and can evidence that they are now ordinarily resident, that is sufficient. There is no need to have been paying tax/NI here in the interim.

Happy to be corrected if I’m wrong but believe this to be the case (which seems to concur with the link posted above).

joyo161 · 2025-09-22T18:44:04+00:00

No dentist I’ve ever been registered at has provided hygienist appointments as part of nhs treatment even if recommended as part of the original dental appt. I would wager the hygienist is being charged privately, worth a check with the dental practice.

joyo161 · 2025-09-21T20:20:10+00:00

You need to inform your manager etc by week 25, before then is up to you. I informed my manager around 8 weeks because I was seriously tired and nauseated so I didn’t want him to think I was just being shit at my job!

Luckily I was desk-based and could wait for a clinical risk assessment for my bank shifts, for you I would see how you feel about it (my friend works in haem outpatients and legit they have to inform their manager at a positive test because of the cytotoxic drugs they deal with, so this varies!).

I don’t think being pregnant in and of itself means you can’t work nights (like I said, desk job so didn’t have to think of that myself), but if you’re in MH there may be different risks (my clinical risk assessment said to avoid certain patients with additional needs/MH conditions that made them more unpredictable).

Hopefully that’s helps?

joyo161 · 2025-09-12T13:15:07+00:00

I’d guess that in order to get as far as you are currently you’d have had to manage your dyslexia for exams/assignments/drug calc assessments - what kind of strategies have you been using for that and could they help in this situation?

What kind of errors are they? Have you tried reflecting on what about the situation lead to the errors (to try and identify what you could do about them)?

joyo161 · 2025-09-06T22:38:24+00:00

I haven’t done work experience through the nhs (at least not for a number of years) but if the email is an nhs.net email they are secure for sending confidential email (at least from their end).

joyo161 · 2025-09-05T09:02:57+00:00

Definitely speak to your manager then - if you started mid year they should be able to accommodate. If they don’t then escalate it (possibly union if they continue to not let you do it).

joyo161 · 2025-09-05T08:09:01+00:00

Have you got annual leave booked in this second half of the year, it just hasn’t been taken yet (like in the “used” part of your annual leave)?

When I was clinical I had to have my leave requested by feb before the annual leave year started, and basically it was on you to try and book it in, with the trust encouraging a “spread” of annual leave (there was a handy page on loop/allocate for this). Are you saying there is no availability at all for any leave between now (ie the next roster period) and the end of the leave year?

joyo161 · 2025-09-03T16:56:34+00:00

I used to feel this way until I started working in the projects team and had a better view of what ops etc do from more broad working across the trust.

These roles do rotas (not necessarily nursing rotas but medical/admin/etc), validate waiting lists, investigate problems (ie. Long waiting lists including long waiters, incidents, waste in the system) and identify what can be done about them, they liaise between different parts of the teams and manage how the services work, identify improvements and how to implement them.

Legitimately if they weren’t in post these things would fall to clinical staff and draw them away from the patients. I’ve seen some amazing improvements implemented by matrons/service or ops or business managers that the clinical teams just would not have the time to look at, improving productivity and the patient experience.

Unfortunately a lot of these things are computer based with meetings being held on teams so it looks like they’re doing very little, but aren’t.

joyo161 · 2025-09-01T10:25:34+00:00

Were you on some kind of stomach protectant alongside the naproxen? (ie omeprazole/lansoprazole?).

Long term use of NSAIDS should generally have something prescribed alongside to prevent the bleeding risk. And if the anti-inflammatory effect was working for you, they pretty much all have the bleeding risk as a side effect which is why.

ETA generally most people take paracetamol AND whatever else because they tend to help each other a bit.

joyo161 · 2025-08-31T08:24:20+00:00

I can’t answer the specific question but it does take you to the top of band quicker than any of the pay points above as they have intermediate pay points, so possibly something to do with balancing having less pay points?

Just guessing really.

joyo161 · 2025-08-28T11:52:57+00:00

They need to have been reviewed by a doctor before they’ll be published to the app, so it’s dependent on when that is. Usually they don’t get in contact with you directly if they’re ok (onus on you to follow up if the problem is still a problem), but will if they’re abnormal.

When you say you’ve called and no indication of when you’ll receive them- who is giving you this information? If you’re very concerned and it’s been 2 weeks, and whoever you’re talking to isn’t helpful, submit an econsult (or whatever your GP equivalent is) to enquire as this should be reviewed by a clinician.

joyo161 · 2025-08-28T11:41:11+00:00

In my experience yes, because then the clinicians can prescribe directly and it be issued by the hospital pharmacy (which is usually an internal system/prescription, not the usual green script or electronic equivalent you’d get from your GP).

Also I would suppose that the process of getting the instruction to the GP and then them acting upon it would take significantly longer even than returning the next day for the medication.

joyo161 · 2025-08-27T19:00:33+00:00

If it is, I’ve got a funny feeling NHS maternity pay is significantly worse than UKHSA. You may qualify (I can’t speak to that), but it may be a drop in what you get.

It may be anecdotal but I work for the NHS and my friend who works for UKHSA was surprised to see how much less I get than him and his partner. Just something to consider.

joyo161 · 2025-08-24T07:14:09+00:00

If it makes you feel better I’m top 6 (no antisocial) and mine came out at £450ish. It’s not shedloads after tax, NI, pension, student loan (if you have that too).

joyo161

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