Junior doctors are performing fewer emergency assessments – a cause for concern

Abstract

Aims and methodDue to concerns regarding the reduced exposure of junior trainees to risk assessment, we have examined emergency assessments carried out in Forth Valley, Scotland, during a 4-month period to ascertain the assessor, time of assessment and outcome.ResultsDuring the 4 months of the audit, an average of 13 emergency psychiatric assessments were carried out by each trainee. The majority of these assessments occurred overnight (81%).Clinical implicationsExperience of emergency assessments by trainees was limited and tended to occur during on-call periods when there is little chance for teaching. With this limited exposure, trainees are missing out on valuable experience in emergency risk assessment and management planning.