A survey of time management and particular tasks undertaken by consultant microbiologists in the UK
- 1Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Church Lane, Heavitree, Exeter, UK
- 2Brobury House, Brobury, Herefordshire, UK
- 3Department of Microbiology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK
- 4Gloucester Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester, UK
- 5Department of Medical Microbiology, Conquest Hospital, The Ridge, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex, UK
- Correspondence to: Dr T Riordan Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Church Lane, Heavitree, Exeter EX2 5AD, UK; terry.riordan{at}rdeft.nhs.uk
- Accepted 21 March 2006
- Published Online First 19 May 2006
Abstract
Background: Medical microbiology practice encompasses a diverse range of activities. Consultant medical microbiologists (CMMs) attribute widely differing priorities to, and spend differing proportions of time on various components of the job.
Aim: To obtain a professional consensus on what are high-priority and low-priority activities, and to identify the time spent on low-priority activities.
Method: National survey.
Results: Many respondents felt that time spent on report authorisation and telephoning of results was excessive, whereas time spent on ward-based work was inadequate. Timesaving could also be achieved through better prioritisation of infection-control activities.
Conclusion: CMMs should apportion their time at work focusing on high-priority activities identified through professional consensus.
- CMM, consultant medical microbiologist
- DGH, district general hospital
- DICP, Director of Infection Control and Prevention
- GP, general practitioner
- ICD, infection control doctor
- ICU, intensive care unit
- wte, whole time equivalent
Footnotes
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Published Online First 19 May 2006
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Competing interests: None declared.
