EBME Forums Forums Management Professional Issues Agenda For Change Voluntary Register ?

One way or another, someone still has to fix the kit. And contrary to what I read here, there is more of it, and of greater complexity (not to mention the users’ expectations) year on year.

And not enough trained staff to fix it and no-one obliged to train staff or offer a worthwhile career path. Hence a shortage. Catch 22 - don't train or offer a decent career and no-one wants to work for you or train people with a view to a long term career and they will look for something better in the future and move-on. But hopefully in the profession they're qualified to do. My view is that it's better to train sufficient staff and offer careers to enough individuals to meet demand rather than scratching around for staff, poaching from other industries and having to provide ad-hoc training. This just perpetuates the situation we have now. Why do you think the NHS is offering R&R to MTO's under AfC?

I hope the VRCT has not just been a means of presenting the HPC with justification of a need to regulate the profession, with an ulterior motive of advancing Medical Physics, by using EBME and other engineering departments and interest from other sources to boost numbers then once regulation is on the way EBME the others are cast-off because regulation is "unworkable". We need more reassurance and input from VRCT, HPC and employers and consultation on this issue as Kevin Haylett has already commented on.

I agree with all the comments. how do we change the attitude? by being united as a profession. Where do we go for this and how do we do this?

well, so far nothing has happened, can we give PACE a chance as trsuts to join the membership of £250 per annum? compare this with a call out cost we pay? Then we can have a voice and put this on the national agenda.

We are very good at attending annual Birmingham conference with Bums on the sits, but what happens? we see each other, nodd at each other, ask the same questions as we did last year, then nothing.. we go away with free bis, file them away, go back following year....

can we agree at least on joning an association which was born out of the profession?

alex

P.s. John have you got any more desk diary and pads left? Bring them on ......

Why is it not possible to accept registration via the Engineering council?

Registration as an Incorporated Engineer shows the registrant is qualified, has followed a recognised training path and has the neccesary bits of paper.

Alex

Can membership to the NHS be free, possibly sponsored by a few companies. My Trust is over £20M in the red and if I ask for £250 to join PACE I will be turned down. I am sure there are many Trusts in this position.

Those of us who make up the Silent Majority don’t attend those junkets, Alex. Too busy working, most likely. You’ll only see the “movers and shakers” there. But as you rightly remind us, there ain’t a “whole lot of shakin’ goin’ on”!

Why not start your own group – one for the “hands-on fixit techies” so beloved of Richard, Tony, myself and others (and, I dare say, many of the lurkers who take their daily peep at this forum)?

I have to agree with you Geoff.

"poaching from other industries"
There you go again. What's wrong with it?
Out of 40 odd technologists here i can think of 2 who have been in the game since scratch, they have just turned 18.
Mongrels are usually healthier than pedigrees.
Long may the profession draw in the integrity, expertise, experience and sometimes direct relevance of those from other industries, as well as those who start from scratch.

Alex

I have just tested the waters, I asked the HoD for £250 to join this group. His response was we already participate with IPEM's Engineering Group Board and the Clinical Engineering Special Interest Group. These have been long established and involvement with these are better suited to our organisation particularly as we are an IPEM accredited training centre for Grade A trainees.

I then asked him what if it was free to join and his response was it sounds like a good group to get involved with. Therefore the annual fee is hindering your membership.

Topper this is not a personal attack on anyone; it's just my opinion. I think I've been particularly consistent on this one: there's nothing wrong with "poaching from other industries" as long as the individuals are trained appropriately and meet the requirements laid-down - like in any job where the employer sets the standards. What I'm after is consistency and fairness for all concerned.

Remember, Topper, that not all departments train new starters, supervise new starters or motivate new starters like yours may as a M.P. Department - irrespective of their background. Also not all individuals know their limitations from day-one. What if an individual who has not been given support is asked to do something they're not qualified to do and don't even realise they shouldn't be making such decisions?

Plus the requirements of the NHS, regarding Technologists have a wider scope than just fixing electronics or mechanical engineering. I have worked in a number of the larger hospital EBME and M.P. departments in the NW when I was training (from scratch, to do the job, and I'm still here) and saw how things were done differently and the different level of skills and services provided.

Regulation is a good idea for any profession - so is running in-house training for starters from other other industries and ab-initio training to meet the specific needs of the employer in my opinion. Make it recognised and consistent across the service and then you know what to expect with regard to core skills, training and education when people move between jobs.