Foundation Training at Bedford Hospital
Bedford Hospital serves a population of approximately 270,000 across Bedfordshire and surrounding areas (with a 900,000 catchment for vascular services). The hospital has approximately 360 beds and provides a full range of acute services with a full Level 2 A&E Department with beds for Care of the Elderly, ENT, General Medicine, AAU, General Surgery, Gynaecology, Neonatal, Obstetrics, Oncology, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Vascular Surgery, Breast Surgery and Urology. Other clinical services include Cardiology, with pacing facilities in the coronary care unit; Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, including a Laser Treatment Centre and a new dedicated state of the art Endoscopy Unit.
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Bedford Hospital is proud to be a University of Cambridge Associate Teaching Hospital. Undergraduate and postgraduate medical education at the hospital is facilitated by the learning and education centre.
At Bedford Hospital we offer 26 foundation year one (FY1) year posts, with three four month placements in specialties including acute medicine and stroke, or specialized medicine including cardiology, gastroenterology, respiratory, endocrinology and care of the elderly, as well as in surgical specialties including breast, colorectal, upper GI, vascular and urology.
We offer 26 foundation year two (FY2) posts covering the above specialties together with orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, inpatient and community paediatrics, ENT, ICU, and psychiatry. There is also a single post in palliative medicine. We offer three posts in general practice. One rotation also includes Papworth Hospital, which is the local cardiothoracic centre.
Teaching opportunities
A fortnightly (bleep free) lunch-time teaching workshop is held in the Learning and Education Centre for all trainees. In addition to this, weekly physician meetings take place together with monthly grand rounds. There is a clinical skills lab for all trainees to help them acquire core skills, BLS and ALS. Regular in house simulation training sessions are delivered for the foundation trainees. A VR simulation facility is available in the education centre.
Faculty
The foundation programme faculty is led by two training programme directors; Mr. Dipankar Chattopadhyay (FY1) and Mr. Joby George Malal (FY2).They meet regularly with the trainees.
Living in the Area
Bedford has a varied selection of reasonably priced accommodation adjacent to the hospital for rent or purchase. The area is well provided for sport, leisure and cultural activities including Bedford International Athletic Stadium, five golf courses, three rowing clubs, Bedford Rugby Club, Bedford Town Football Club and several swimming pools. Bedford is within a 40 minute rail commute to Central London.
There is a well provided Doctor’s mess which organizes regular social events, lunchtime meetings and an annual ball.