Clin Med
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Many medical (and other) trainees will have heard mention during their training years of the specialty training committee (STC) relevant to their chosen medical specialty and might even be aware of some of the trainer members who sit on this committee. However, there is a perception that, equally, many trainees have no clear understanding of the roles and functions of STCs in relation to their training and, furthermore, the relation of their STC to its local deanery. This might also extend to consultant educational trainers who are less involved in the broader provision of postgraduate medical training (although, ideally this should not be the case). Here, I provide a brief guide to the role of STCs in training and their relation to their local deanery.
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Timely medical assessment is integral to the safety and quality of healthcare delivery in acute medicine. Medical staff are an expensive resource. This study aimed to develop a modelling system that facilitated efficient workforce planning according to patient need on the acute medical unit. ⋯ A robust modelling system that predicted the number of unclerked patients was developed. The utility of the model was assessed by demonstrating the impact of a regulation-compliant redesign of the rota using existing staff and by predicting the most efficient use of an additional shift. This simple modelling system has the potential to enhance quality of care and efficiency by linking workforce planning to patient need.