NHS doctors are wasting time on training courses an eight-year-old could do rather than treating patients, an MP says.
The pointless exercises were laid bare in a Commons committee by Tory MP Dr Caroline Johnson, who is also a consultant paediatrician.
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She challenged NHS leaders facing the committee, saying she has to do 29 training courses every year, answering questions such as, ‘What must you do if you receive a phishing email?’
She said: “I read them to my eight-year-old and he could answer them.
“Why are we wasting time with this nonsense?”
In another, consultants were shown a picture of a stomach and asked whether this was where defibrillator pads should go.
Dr Johnson, MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, told of watching a fire safety video with dozens of senior hospital colleagues.
She said: “I was thinking, ‘We are all sat in a room wasting our time while we could be seeing patients’.”
NHS England’s Prof Sir Stephen Powis responded by saying cybersecurity training was vital for all NHS staff.
He added: “I don’t think any of you would argue that it’s not right that people should understand safeguarding and some of the legislation behind safeguarding.
“I think it’s about ensuring that the mandatory training that is delivered is the correct mandatory training, it is done in the best possible way and the most effective way.
“I think it’s about getting the balance right.”