When pressure is high and resources are scarce, the MSRA SJT rewards one thing above all: objective, criteria-led allocation — not convenience, noise, or hierarchy. This episode breaks down how to prioritise safely using urgency, benefit, and risk of delay, while resisting VIP pressure, unsafe delays, and opaque decision-making. Learn the FAIRE mnemonic, the “balanced scales” visual cue, and the five high-yield traps that instantly tank scores.

0:00 Why resource allocation is hard
00:20 The last isolation-room scenario
00:58 Convenience vs fairness
01:22 One-sentence exam rule: prioritise by need + benefit
02:40 Why first-come-first-served scores badly
03:39 The three red flags (unsafe delay, VIP pressure, opacity)
04:52 The 5-step high-scoring framework
06:20 Step-by-step: Prioritise → Document → Communicate → Escalate → Address inequalities
07:20 FAIRE mnemonic explained
08:40 NHS Core20PLUS5 and equity duties
09:40 Brand-Plus model (benefits, risks, alternatives, nothing + equity)
11:00 Classic imaging allocation scenario (CT PE vs chronic back pain MRI)
12:40 The two dominant SJT patterns
13:40 High-frequency traps in the exam
15:10 Model escalation phrase
16:00 FAQ: clinically equivalent cases
17:10 FAQ: when to escalate
18:20 Rapid-fire X→Y safety drill
19:40 Final three takeaways

• Highest scoring approach = urgency + expected benefit + harm if delayed.
• Fairness means addressing barriers, not treating everyone identically.
• VIP pressure, loud families, or hierarchy must never override clinical criteria.
• Keeping resources idle “just in case” causes certain harm and scores poorly.
• Documentation + transparent communication is non-negotiable.
• Early escalation when capacity becomes unsafe is a professional responsibility.

FAIRE
F – Focus on need & benefit
A – Address inequalities
I – Inform & document
R – Raise/escalate early
E – Establish review & safety netting

Balanced Scales Visual Cue
Picture scales weighted only by: urgency, benefit, risk of delay — never by noise, rank, or arrival order.

Resource allocation questions test your ability to stay fair, transparent and safety-focused under intense pressure. Use clearly defined criteria, resist external influence, document your rationale, and escalate when capacity becomes unsafe. The FAIRE mnemonic and the balanced-scales mental model will guide you to the safest — and highest-scoring — answers.

Links:
• passthemsra.com – Complete MSRA revision, notes, mocks, flashcards
• freemsra.com – Free podcasts, threads and rapid-learning guides
• msra.io – Smart MSRA Qbank with analytics

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