Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
I have said this before on BMJ Rapid responses. As a patient I rely on my GP, the nurses and "Junior???" doctors to keep me alive and kicking. Yes, the consultants may drop in but the daily care depends on junior staff. It all reverts in the end to a patient friendly environment.
All the time there is reference to over-tired junior staff and possible error which comes back again to a paper in the BMJ in May this year (BMJ 2016;353:i2139 doi: 10.1136/bmj.i2139). While this refers to the US, the basic medical practices are similar so that a pro-rata rate of iatrogenic deaths would be 48000-50000. Yet nothing is being done - not patient friendly at all. Indeed, there is an impression that the medical establishment does its best to conceal such facts.
I find it difficult to understand why a political desire to promote at all costs a 24/7 service by a process that ensures the increase in iatrogenic deaths and injuries and, furthermore results in staff dissatisfaction to the point of leaving the profession or leaving the country.
It is my belief that the best outcomes are always achieved by working with and co-operating with staff: not by forcing issues as in this case.
Re: Junior doctors’ strikes: BMA responds to your questions
I have said this before on BMJ Rapid responses. As a patient I rely on my GP, the nurses and "Junior???" doctors to keep me alive and kicking. Yes, the consultants may drop in but the daily care depends on junior staff. It all reverts in the end to a patient friendly environment.
All the time there is reference to over-tired junior staff and possible error which comes back again to a paper in the BMJ in May this year (BMJ 2016;353:i2139 doi: 10.1136/bmj.i2139). While this refers to the US, the basic medical practices are similar so that a pro-rata rate of iatrogenic deaths would be 48000-50000. Yet nothing is being done - not patient friendly at all. Indeed, there is an impression that the medical establishment does its best to conceal such facts.
I find it difficult to understand why a political desire to promote at all costs a 24/7 service by a process that ensures the increase in iatrogenic deaths and injuries and, furthermore results in staff dissatisfaction to the point of leaving the profession or leaving the country.
It is my belief that the best outcomes are always achieved by working with and co-operating with staff: not by forcing issues as in this case.
Competing interests: No competing interests