Description
In this address delivered by Deborah Eastwood, the President of the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA), she reflects on the past year marked by significant challenges in the healthcare environment, particularly within the NHS, which celebrated its 75th anniversary alongside the BOA's 105th birthday. The talk emphasizes the collective concerns among medical professionals regarding patient care amidst rising healthcare pressures, indicating rising instances of "moral injury" in the profession where staff feel unable to provide the level of care they aspire to.
Eastwood addresses serious issues of professional conduct, highlighting alarming statistics regarding harassment and assault among female surgeons, which demand urgent action for cultural change within the medical field. She discusses the collaborative efforts among various royal colleges and surgical associations to unite voices in addressing these challenges, alongside promoting discussions on future planning for sustainable orthopedic care and addressing the increasing burden of waiting lists for surgeries.
The speech further delves into innovative practices in healthcare, such as providing surgeries outside traditional settings, while pointing to an alarming rise in waiting times for treatments, which have escalated significantly since pre-pandemic times. Eastwood credits various initiatives aimed at improving the safety and experience of orthopedic surgery and announces the introduction of resources and collaborations aimed at better training and inclusion in practice, stressing the importance of evolving practices to ensure comprehensive, adaptable solutions for a sustainable healthcare system.
As the session wraps up, she invokes a spirit of community and collaboration among attendees, encouraging engagement and dialogue about change within the orthopaedic profession, and highlighting the need for continual reflection and improvement as they face the evolving challenges of the healthcare system.