Conflict, candour and reflection

There are many challenges to practising medicine well, not least keeping up to date with medical advances, implementing them within the time and financial restraints of ever expanding healthcare and avoiding over or under treatment while keeping the patient safe and avoiding criticism or complaints. In essence, considering the ‘whole patient’ and managing them using our knowledge, skills and experience which no longer equates to just the medical facts with increased recognition that skills like ‘openness’, ‘listening’, ‘transparency’ and enhanced communication are partly acquired by experience but can also be facilitated by training, mentoring and working in a positive and supportive environment. Multiple new areas of thinking have emerged as priorities—conflict resolution training, the duty of candour, learning from excellence, the need to reflect and active consideration of well being for ourselves, our patients and their families. These concepts need to be embraced as they will help facilitate us...

from Archives of Disease in Childhood current issue https://ift.tt/2Jwafw4