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. 2021 Mar;8(1):e1-e4.
doi: 10.7861/fhj.2020-0168.

Chief registrars: Leading in a time of COVID-19

Amy Colori  1 , Mya Dilly  2 , Lizzie Moriarty  3 , Aaisha Saqib  4 , Ruw Abeyratne  5 , Tessa Thomas  6 , Lynne Millar  7 , Rakshit Kumar  8 , Caroline Evans  9
Affiliations

Chief registrars: Leading in a time of COVID-19

Amy Colori et al. Future Healthc J. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

The NHS is currently in the midst of a global health crisis that requires rapid action from its staff and systems. The Royal College of Physicians' chief registrars, in their role as middle leaders that bridge the gap between junior doctors and senior leadership in NHS trusts nationwide, are uniquely positioned to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Our strategies fall into three overlapping categories: our roles as middle leaders, developing effective communication techniques and promoting staff wellbeing. We discuss lessons of good leadership in a time of crisis, from embracing new ways of working and new technologies, to utilising professional networks to drive change, to providing tools to support the wellbeing of the colleagues we both lead and care for. The lessons of our initial response are being shared across our national network. We also hope that the novel approaches we have developed will inform the practice of future middle leaders.

Keywords: COVID-19; Leadership; communication; middle leader; wellbeing.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Overlapping domains of RCP chief registrar leadership during the COVID-19 response.
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
Example of junior doctors COVID-19 noticeboard – Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust
Fig 3.
Fig 3.
Wellbeing hub at Medway NHS Foundation Trust.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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