In this episode, Dr Kirsty Crowe and Dr Aoife Duignan delve into the challenges and rewards of becoming a parent while working in the medical field. They explore crucial topics such as navigating maternity and annual leave, breaking the news to your employer, and the logistics of returning to work. The discussion also covers the importance of keeping in touch days (KIT), understanding your rights in the workplace, and the resources available to support breastfeeding and arranging childcare. Dr Crowe and Dr Duignan share insights on managing antenatal leave, handling illness during external childcare, and calculating accrued annual leave, offering practical advice for balancing parenthood with a demanding medical career.
Dr Kirsty Crowe is a specialty registrar in renal and internal medicine based in the West of Scotland. She is deeply committed to enhancing medical education, particularly in addressing barriers that hinder patient engagement with healthcare. Prior to commencing her higher specialty training, Dr Crowe completed a Clinical Teaching Fellowship, reflecting her dedication to effective medical education. Her interests extend to supporting the inclusivity and wellbeing of trainees, a focus she explored during her Scottish Clinical Leadership Fellowship with the NHS Lothian Medical Education Directorate and the GMC. Dr Crowe is also actively involved in networks that support renal trainees in engaging with quality improvement and research activities.
Dr Aoife Duignan is a specialist trainee in geriatric and general medicine in South East Scotland. With a strong commitment to representing her peers, she has previously served on local and regional trainee committees and held the position of Vice Chair for Representation on the Trainees and Members' Committee (TMC). Dr Duignan has a history of organizing Core Medical Trainee teaching and currently oversees the regional Geriatric Medicine training days. Her interests lie in enhancing the quality of internal medicine training, fostering near-peer support, and providing guidance for those planning maternity leave, returning to work, and undertaking Less Than Full Time (LTFT) training.
Recording Date: 15 August 2024
Please note: this episode was recorded prior to the British Medical Association (BMA) and others replacing 'Junior Doctor' with 'Resident Doctor'.
-- Useful Links --
BMA on Maternity, Paternity and Adoption - https://www.bma.org.uk/pay-and-contracts/maternity-paternity-and-adoption
NHS Scotland Maternity Policy - https://workforce.nhs.scot/policies/maternity-policy-overview/maternity-policy/
Maternity Action - https://maternityaction.org.uk/advice/rights-for-parents-with-more-than-one-job/
Tax-free childcare information - https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare
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