Health Education East of England O&G Training Hospital Rotations
The East of England is a geographically large deanery but this provides diverse training within a variety of units.
Training Programme Directors (TPDs) recognise that our deanery is far-reaching therefore are supportive in aiming to club hospital rotations to a geographical area within the deanery - typically clustering around the north, south (particularly accessible to commute to or from London), west and east of our deanery.
Typically each trainee will spend 12 months for each hospital placement before rotating, except in ST2-3 where we recognise that there is a substantial step up to registrar level; therefore TPDs will try to ensure the trainee remains in the same hospital for those two years to support their training and progression to being a registrar (unless the trainee would prefer not to do this).
Please find below information about each training hospital's department from their corresponding RCOG College Tutor.
For a list of the current Trainee Representatives for each unit please click HERE.
College Tutor:
Ms Amita Sahare
Email: A.sahare@nhs.net
About Basildon:
Basildon has a delivery rate of 4500 per year, 11 full time consultants, 5 SAS Registrars, 3 speciality trainee doctors and 3 GP trainees. Despite it being a busy unit, it provides excellent opportunities for hands-on training in theatre and several ATSMs (for example labour ward management, benign gynaecology, gynaecological ultrasound and urogynaecology). We also run RCOG recognised courses in Basildon such as the Urogynaecology workshop. Most of the ST3 to ST5 trainees who have trained at Basildon ask to come back as ST6-7 in our unit.
Our MRCOG pass rate is nearly 100% due to the support and help during preparation. Consultants are very approachable, friendly and supportive. We are also flexible with study leave.
College Tutor:
Liliana Grosu
liliana.grosu@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk
About Bedford:
Bedford Hospital is a medium size general district hospital with approximately 3000 births per year. The College Tutor is Mrs Sarah Reynolds (also Associate TPD for ST3-5). There are a range of opportunities for trainees at all levels of the training programme, and lots of hands on experience particularly in gynaecological surgery. We also actively encourage ultrasound training. Previous trainees have completed basic training and intermediate ultrasound modules. We have a gynaecology ultrasound simulator which all trainees have access to. Trainees are given opportunity to scan in EPU and have antenatal scanning sessions too.
We performs lots of day case gynae laparoscopic surgery and have one consultant who performs regularly total laparoscopic hysterectomies and laparoscopic myomectomies. There is access to urodynamics and urogynaecological surgery including sacrocolpopexy, colposusupension and urethral bulking. Trainees are able to borrow laparoscopic simulators to practice their skills at home. Previous senior trainees have completed ATSMs in Acute Gynaecology and early pregnancy, benign gynaecology, advanced labour ward practice, Abortion care & Labour ward lead.
College Tutor:
Ms Maria Vella
Email: maria.vella@wsh.nhs.uk
The West Suffolk Hospital is a district general hospital in Bury St Edmunds. We have an excellent track record with trainees and train trainees at all tiers from ST1 – ST7. We are also offering a number of SITMs. It is a very friendly hospital with very approachable consultants and we have consistently good feedback from our trainees as evidenced on our GMC trainee feedback forms.
College Tutor:
Mr Saikat Banerjee
saikat.banerjee@addenbrookes.nhs.uk
Ms Michelle Kemp
Addenbrookes is a large tertiary centre with 5500 deliveries a year. It is the regional maternal medicine centre and accepts tertiary fetal medicine referrals as well as pre term surveillance clinics. We are the only the only centre in the UK recognized as by the International Fellowship of Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology. We offer tertiary level PAG including, paediatric surgery and the DSD service. We have strong links to Cambridge IVF and also have robotic surgery here. We are a RCOG Subspecialist Training centre for Urogynaecology Subspec training since 2006 and one of only 30 Nationally Accredited Urogynaecology Centres in UK as well as being an endometriosis centre.
We are one of only 10 NHSE Nationally Commissioned Mesh Complications Centre with the third highest mesh complications workload nationally. We have 4 lap simulation training skills box trainers which are permanently kept in our Addenbrookes Simulation centre for trainees to use.
We support a wide range of training tiers including SHO, junior registrars , senior registrars and subspec trainees. It’s a great unit to learn both the common every day procedures and learn from the rare and complex. And we support most SITMs. We also have strong links to Cambridge university and there are ample opportunities for teaching as well as clinical research.
College Tutor:
Dr Subrata Gangooly
Broomfield hospital is an 800 bed District General Hospital and part of the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (along with hospitals at Basildon and Southend). The hospital has good connectivity to the rest of the EOE deanery and London, which is only an hour away. The varied patient population allows exposure to develop a wide experience and encourage inclusivity in patient care. The practices within maternity and gynaecology units are up-to-date and completely evidence-based, supported by robust governance teams which also cater to professional development. The maternity unit cater to over 4500 patients each year, with a 10 bedded labour ward and 2 operating theatres situated within the labour ward. Our unit provides ample opportunities to attain excellent O+G Training, meeting the requirements of RCOG core curriculum for basic and intermediate levels of training.
Junior doctors are divided into 3 tiers- namely SHO, Junior registrar and Senior registrar. The rota team are very supportive and do prioritise training needs.
Day time cover consists of acute gynaecology and maternity areas being staffed with one registrar and 2 SHOs. On call consultants are therefore able to cater to learning needs due to ample staffing. There are number of speciality clinic and outpatient services where trainees are encouraged to attend regularly- General gynae, Urogynae, Urodynamics, Cystoscopy, Colposcopy, Hysteroscopy, 2WW wait, Fertility and Gynae-oncology and EPU scanning, which run several times a week. Antenatal clinics cover Preterm, maternal medicine, Diabetes, and foetal medicine clinics. Community clinics run at WJC, Braintree and St. Peter’s Hospital, Maldon, which also have standalone midwifery led units. The rota accommodates 9 theatre sessions every week, enabling accommodation of trainee-oriented lists. Elective Caesarean lists are mainly consultant-led, usually 5 sessions a week.
Night cover consists of a minimum of one member from each tier, with the Senior reg holding the Gynae bleep and the Junior reg covering maternity. Additional support registrars or SHOs maybe provided as needed. The 3-tier system was put in place to offer trainees in the middle tier an opportunity for developing independent practice while having easy and quick access to senior peer-support and guidance. On- call consultants are always prompt in coming in to support the unit when needed.
Education: A well planned Friday afternoon teaching session with only on-call activity ensures continuing professional development with presentations from International and local experts including regular multi-disciplinary teaching covering different CIPS of the training portfolio. SBE sessions are run regularly provide effective training opportunities.
Overall, the unit provides well rounded O+G training supported by knowledgeable and experienced Consultants, Trust grade doctors, midwifery, nursing and management teams.
Summary:
Rota
- Three- tiered: SHO, Junior Reg, Senior Reg
- On call frequency 1:8
- On call start times 08:00 am to 20:30 pm/20:00 pm to 08:30 am.
- NWD: 08:30 am to 17:30 pm
- Local teaching frequency: -twice a week (CTG meetings- Thursday 08:30am, Local teaching: Friday 13:00pm)
- Overnight resident Consultant: No
SITMs offered:
- Gynaecological surgical care 2
- Complex early pregnancy and emergency Gynaecology -2
- Urogynaecology and vaginal surgery-2
- Management of the endometrium-1
- Colposcopy-1
- Maternal medicine in conjunction with Pregnancy care- 2
- Pregnancy care -1
- Care for prematurity-1
- Supportive obstetrics- 1
College Tutor:
Ms Neeraja Yeddula
neerajavani.yeddula@esneft.nhs.uk
About Colchester:
Our unit is known for being a friendly and busy unit. We provide a range of specialist clinics for both obstetrics and gynaecological conditions. We are one of 3 endometriosis centres in the region and see tertiary referrals from all over the UK. Trainees have ample opportunities to achieve skills. I have completed two ATSMs (Early pregnancy and benign abdominal surgery: laparoscopy) in one year when I was ST6 trainee at Colchester.
There is a busy teaching programme held in the department. We run regular skills and drills by using high fidelity simulator ‘SimMom’, ‘desperate Deborah’ (for impacted head at LSCS), ‘Lucy’ (for rotational ventouse) and ‘PROMPT’ birthing trainer for shoulder dystocia and forceps.
The ICENI Centre opened its doors to trainees in O&G to develop their practical skills for free during their time at the trust http://www.icenicentre.org/coursesevents/gynaecology/ .
The ICENI centre has a global proven track record for delivering high quality laparoscopic courses and other non-technical courses, such as patient safety and human factors.
The unit is well known for offering the advanced laparoscopic, Maternal Medicine and Vulva disorders ATSMs. In addition the following ATSMs are also offered to STRs
- Acute gynae and early pregnancy
- Advanced Labour Ward Practice
- High risk pregnancy
- Benign Abdominal Surgery
- Hysteroscopy
- Colposcopy
- Fetal Medicine
- Labour Ward Lead
- Urogynaecology
The unit is renowned for creating an environment where people can enjoy their work. This often attracts trainees to join the unit, when they complete their training. Currently, there are six consultants in our unit who have been trained at East of England deanery, and five of them were trained at Colchester Hospital.
College Tutor:
Mr Vijay Balakrishnan
About Princess Alexandra:
We are a busy district general hospital with around 4,000 deliveries a year serving a diverse population. We are a very friendly group of consultants, permanent non-training grades and midwives with a track record of supporting trainees and a reputation as a very friendly place to work. There are gynaecology operating lists every day including hysteroscopy, termination of pregnancy, vaginal surgery, open surgery and advanced laparoscopic surgery including laparoscopic hysterectomy. We are moving towards a consultant led early-pregnancy service and will shortly be introducing a manual vacuum aspiration service so there should be plenty of training opportunities for early pregnancy ultrasound.
There are plenty of opportunities to attend a wide range of clinics including: general antenatal, general gynaecology, diabetic antenatal, fetal medicine, perinatal mental health, rapid access, colposcopy and outpatient hysteroscopy clinics.
We also support trainees looking to get involved with the non-clinical aspect of medicine including rota design, teaching, publication and committees and forums within the hospital.
We are ideally situated with motorway and train links to London and Cambridge and easy access to Stansted airport.
College Tutor:
Ms Nadia Rahman
I am Nadia Rahman, Consultant and college tutor in Hinchingbrooke Hospital, part of North West Anglia Foundation NHS Trust and on behalf of all consultants, I want to invite you to come and work with us at some point in your training.
We take great pride in providing excellent training across all areas of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. You will be supported by 8 consultants, and work on a 1 in 7 rota.
By working with us you will be able to complete the vast majority of the competencies of the core curriculum and we are able to provide various ATSMs as well as scanning experience.
Approximately 2500 women choose to have their babies at Hinchingbrooke every year and we take some of the excess workload from neighbouring units.
We have a busy Obstetric Medicine clinic, MDAU and we have embraced the GAP project, which has increased our scanning workload, which means more chances for you to learn Obstetric and Fetal Medicine scanning!
The current Eastern Deanery USS preceptor is the Lead for EPAU, TOP and Emergency Gynaecology in our Unit. She facilitates USS training leading to completion of Benign and Intermediate Gynae USS modules and ATSM Early Pregnancy and Emergency Gynae and Termination of Pregnancy. 3 fetal-medicine consultants offer 3 scan lists per week offering plenty of Obstetrics scan training. You can easily achieve basic and intermediate level of Obstetrics scanning competencies.
We perform several advanced laparoscopic gynaecological surgeries with one of the highest total laparoscopic hysterectomy rates and the lowest conversion rate in the region together with other laparoscopic procedures for benign and malignant disease. There is plenty of opportunity to foster your laparoscopic skills and complete the ATSM for Benign Laparoscopic and abdominal surgery.
Ambulatory gynaecology and Rapid Access Clinics are also our pride and joy! You can get your hands on outpatient treatment under local anaesthetic including hysteroscopy (by vaginoscopy), Myosure Polypectomy, Endometrial ablation with Novasure and soon Minitouch endometrial ablation for senior trainees. We have successfully facilitated completion of the hysteroscopy ATSM for various trainees.
We are an BSUG accredited urogynaecology unit and offer training in a range of continence and prolapse procedures including Bulkamid periurethral injections, Botox, Cystoscopy (all offered as outpatients procedures), TVT (currently on hold nationally), Colposuspension, Pelvic floor repair, Vaginal Hysterectomy and Sacrospinous Fixation. We offer urodynamics training including ambulatory urodynamics. We have an excellent record of supporting ATSM trainees through their training.
If reproductive medicine whets your appetite, you can learn gynaecology scanning, ovulation monitoring and we hope soon to be able to do follicular tracking as part of the IVF satellite service. This would provide you with an excellent opportunity to develop skills in assisted reproduction techniques working remotely from an IVF centre.
We are one of the DGH in the region that has managed to create research active culture in the unit. All consultants are GCP trained and Hinchingbrooke has been the highest recruiting DGH in the region. We currently participate in several portfolio research trials and trainees are encouraged to participate actively in these trails at various levels.
We organise various courses for foundations years and senior trainees; laparoscopic course, ATSM LW and ATSM early pregnancy. These courses will be a great opportunity for trainees to be faculty and gain management skills.
School visit have praised us for gynae, early pregnancy, obstetrics scanning and our hands on approach to teaching and our supportive environment.
One of our recent trainees who is now a consultant says “Hinchingbrooke Hospital is a great unit for training in all areas of the curriculum. There is plenty of obstetrics and gynae surgery and ample opportunity for both obstetric and gynae scanning. Valuable training for both junior and senior registrars. Furthermore, the consultants in this unit are all committed to training and provide plenty of support where necessary”.
If you share our ethos of dedication, sincerity and openness, we can work together and we look forward to welcoming you soon.
If your area of interest is not covered and you would like to discuss anything with us before making a decision, please find below contacts of relevant team members:
Erika Manzo - Reproductive/Minimal Access surgery
Hema Nosib - EPAU/Laparoscopic/Minimal access surgery
Sangeeta Pathak - Fetal Medicine/Obstetrics/Research
Suzanne Hamilton - Fetal Maternal Medicine/Obstetrics
Tarang Majmudar - Colposcopy/Gynae Oncology
Yves van Roon - Urogynaecology
College Tutor:
Dr Joanna Cook
About Ipswich:
Ipswich hospital provides excellent opportunities for all O&G training levels, especially for ST1 and ST4-7. We have adequately busy labour wards with a figure of around 4000 deliveries annually. We are a team of 12 consultants.
We are one of few hospitals of EOE that have a Gynaeoncology centre and receives referral from about 1.25 million population. Trainees feel that they get excellent opportunities for all Gynaeoncology surgeries including trachelectomies. We in addition to Urogynaecology outpatient services and also run full day weekly operative list for urogynaecology and pelvic surgery. There are ample opportunities to learn benign gynaecology surgery as we run about 15 operative sessions in a week. Ipswich hospital offers Specialist Fertility services including clinics like Hysterosalpingo Contrast Sonography (HyCoSy). Other specialist gynaecology clinics are Colposcopy; HMB; PMB; TOP; Urodynamic; Pessary and Paediatric & adolescent gynaecology clinics. Ambulatory gynaecology has been started.
In Ipswich basic and intermediate scanning competencies are easily achieved.
In addition to general antenatal clinics we run high risk pregnancy clinics including combined Diabetic antenatal clinic, medical disorders antenatal clinic, birth choices clinic, fetal medicine US sessions and psychiatric disorder antenatal clinic.
We conduct three consultant led elective CS lists which are hence ideal for ST1-2 who are encouraged to perform these procedures and most of trainees can do around 50-70 CS in a year.
Medical education is our vision, in this regard we have been hosting maximum number of regional teaching days, and perineal repair course, and strongly encourage trainees to participate as organisers and speakers. We are also participating in few national research projects and trainees can get involve for this unique opportunity.
We offer a range of ATSM support, (I myself completed three ATSMs in Ipswich hospital as ST6-7 trainee before becoming a consultant at Ipswich):
- Abortion care—we are in a position to supervise this ATSM
- Acute gynaecology and early pregnancy
- Advanced labour ward practice
- Benign abdominal surgery: open and laparoscopic
- Benign gynaecological surgery: hysteroscopy
- Colposcopy
- Labour ward lead
- Maternal medicine
- Medical education
- Gyne-Oncology
- Subfertility and reproductive health
- Urogynaecology and vaginal surgery
If you are thinking to get best skill mix with support and encouragement, we will help you to accomplish your endeavors.
College Tutor:
Ms Amrita Viegas
About L&D:
The Luton and Dunstable University Hospitals serves a local population of approximately 310,000 and has excellent access to Central London by road or rail and to the Midlands and the North via the M1/A1. The town also has an international and domestic airport. It has always been renowned for its friendly atmosphere and good working relationships and an enthusiasm for teaching and training. There are well-developed links with Tertiary Units in both London and Cambridge and there are a number of specialist Outreach clinics. The Trust has Associate Teaching Hospital Status with UCL and The Royal Free. There are strong links with Cambridge Medical School and across the region we have an excellent reputation for Junior staff training.
The hospital has a modern Medical Centre with an active Postgraduate Teaching Programme and a well-stocked library with up to date computer facilities. Good facilities for study and training are also available. The modern Postgraduate Centre provides excellent facilities for continuing education of hospital medical and dental staff and general practitioners. Within the Centre there is an excellent medical library with internet facilities. There is a weekly Grand Round to which the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department is a regular contributor and a weekly postgraduate meeting attended by both hospital staff and local general practitioners.
With over 5,000 deliveries per year, the maternity unit has one of the highest delivery rates in the East of England region and has the responsibility for treating the most premature babies across the whole of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
The Unit provides various specialist services, also supporting various ATSMs:
1. Fertility services: Satellite unit for IVF and patients referred to Bourne Hall.
2. Urogynaecology: Specialises in advances laparoscopic surgeries including laparoscopic hysteropexy, colposuspensions, tape procedures and various vaginal procedures. Also there is ambulatory Urogynaecology providing outpatient cystoscopy, urodynamics, pessary clinics etc..
3. Endometriosis clinics: We are an accredited centre for endometriosis and we provide advanced laparoscopic surgeries including laparoscopic excision of DIE, excision of endometriotic lesions, cyst removal, stenting, excision of endometriosis in other organs.
4. Colposcopy: We have accredited colposcopists who could help in colposcopy training and exposure to Dysis.
5. Outpatient hysteroscopy: We have dedicated PMB clinics, HMB clinic, Out patient Myosures, Novasure clinics.
6. TOP clinics: we have dedicated TOP clinic and we could provide scanning opportunities and experience in TOP service.
7. Early pregnancy clinic: We have dedicated clinics run by consultant and gives exposure to gynaecology scanning; manage patients with early pregnancy problems, recurrent miscarriage clinics, MVA clinics.
8. Oncology: Luton and Dunstable Hospital is part of the Mount Vernon Cancer Network. The current arrangements are that major gynaecological cancer surgery is centralised at the Herts and South Beds Cancer Centre based at Watford General Hospital. This gives exposure to PMB clinics, oncology clinics, and MDTs.
9. Obstetrics: We have dedicated specialised clinics including joint haematology clinic, diabetic clinics, Cardiology clinics, endocrine clinics, VBAC clinics, specialist midwives clinic, birth options clinics, Perinatal mental health clinics, fetal medicine clinics, preterm clinics, etc…
10. Risk management: We have robust Obstetrics and Gynaecology risk management structure Our Medical team have a key role to play in leading work to improve the safety of patients both in terms of demonstrating exemplary practice and in participating in improvement initiatives. Job plans will reflect this emphasis and a key objective will be to demonstrate your contribution to driving up patient safety at the hospital and the L&D’s aim to “Lead the NHS in Patient Safety”. There are opportunities to attend Risk meeting, clinical governance meeting, etc.
College Tutors:
Ms Anna Haestier
anna.haestier@nnuh.nhs.uk
Mr Ilias Giarenis
The NNUHFT is situated in the outskirts of the city of Norwich, which is in the North East of the Deanery. It is one of the UK’s popular tourist destinations due to its’ medieval heritage and cathedrals along with its’ proximity to the Norfolk Broads and Norfolk coastline of beautiful beaches.
It is a busy teaching hospital, with close links to the University of East Anglia (UEA). The maternity department manages approximately 5000 deliveries a year that delivers care alongside a busy gynaecology service.
There are 3 tiers of junior doctors Tier 1 (ST1-2), tier 2 (ST3-5) and Tier 3 (ST6+). The on call frequency for tier 1 is 1:11 (with a 1:11 shorter gynae cover only weekend too) and tiers 2/3 1:9 The consultant obstetrician is resident between 07.30-23.00 on weekdays and flexibly for 8 hours a day at the weekend, but is present for both the morning and evening ward rounds after handover. The consultant gynaecologist is present on site until 17.00 on weekdays and leads the morning ward rounds at weekends.
College Tutor:
Dr Ayshini Samarasinghe
I am Ayshini Samarasinghe, the College Tutor for Peterborough Hospital (PCH), which is part of North West Anglia NHS Trust. I have been a trainee in the region, and I worked as a registrar in Peterborough for my final two years.
PCH is a large district general hospital with over 5000 deliveries a year. We have been fortunate to be voted one of the best hospitals for O&G training for many years running in the UK.
We are a busy and very friendly unit offering a two tier system for trainees ranging from ST1 to 7. The consultant body is extremely supportive and provide excellent training and teaching opportunities.
We offer a wide range of SITMs including benign gynaecology surgery, oncology, urogynaecology, hysteroscopy, subfertility, colposcopy, vulval disease, emergency gynaecology and advanced abortion care.
Being a busy obstetric unit, we offer all obstetric STIMs except for prenatal diagnosis. We have been specially noted for high quality training opportunities in gynaecology surgery, scanning and high risk obstetric care.
You will find us a very encouraging and engaging unit, helping you progress through your training to becoming consultants.
College Tutor
College Tutor:
Mr Venkat Raman
About Southend Hospital
Southend Hospital is part of the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (along with Basildon Hospital and Broomfield Hospitals). We are a busy district general hospital with around 3500 births a year. We serve a diverse population which will provide a wide range of training opportunities and exposures for our junior doctors.
We have 3 tiers of junior doctors – SHO, junior registrar and senior registrar. The consultant obstetrician is resident between 08:00-20:30 hours on weekdays, 08:00 to 13:00 hours and 18:00 to 20:30 hours on weekends (Saturday and Sunday). The consultant gynaecologist is present on site from Monday to Friday, 08:00 hours to 16:00 hours. This ensures safe and prompt senior care for patients, whilst providing training opportunities to the junior doctors, in acute obstetrics and gynaecology. All our consultants are trained and familiar with RCOG ePortfolio and the Curriculum, to ensure training and teaching activities will cater to junior doctors needs in different CiPs.
We have a wide range of specialist services including:
- Oncology Care: Southend is an oncology unit providing surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy services to our oncology patients. This gives good exposure to two week wait clinics, oncology clinics, gynaecological surgical oncology, and Oncology MDT.
- Fertility: We have dedicated weekly Fertility Clinics and with referrals going to Bourne Hall IVF unit. We have close links with Bourne Hall, where our junior doctors attend clinical sessions to obtain experience in Fertility management.
- Fetal Medicine/Care: In 2015, a specialist fetal medicine centre was opened to provide a high level of care for pregnant women and their unborn babies. The new centre is actively involved in research into pregnancy complications and in the training of doctors in fetal medicine. The doctors working in the unit are rotating into the fetal medicine unit at King’s College Hospital, London.
- Complex Early Pregnancy: Dedicated clinics run by consultants or senior clinical fellows, providing training to gynaecology/early pregnancy scanning, MVA management, and recurrent miscarriage.
- Abortion Care: Dedicated weekly TOP clinics
- Colposcopy: We have accredited colposcopists (doctors and nurses) who are supporting training in colposcopy training and accreditation.
- Hysteroscopy clinics: we have dedicated one stop PMB hysteroscopy clinics, myosure clinics and nurse-led hysteroscopy clinics.
- Menopause: We have two specialists leading menopause clinics
- Benign Gynaecology clinics and surgeries: We have consultants specialising in urogynaecology, paediatric and adolescent gynaecology, endometriosis etc
- High risk Obstetrics and Maternal Medicine clinics: We have dedicated specialised clinics including Joint Haematology clinic, Joint Diabetic clinics, Joint Perinatal Mental Health Clinics, Complex Maternal Medicine Clinics, Preterm clinics etc. We also lead preconception counselling clinics
We are therefore able to offer the following ATSMs or SITMs/SIPMs:
- Gynaecological Surgical Care
- Oncology Care
- Management of Subfertility
- Management of the endometrium
- Colposcopy
- Menopause
- Safe Practice in Abortion Care
- Complex Early Pregnancy and Emergency Gynaecology
- Fetal Care
- Pregnancy Care
- Maternal Medicine
- Care of Prematurity
- Perinatal Mental health
Education sessions are organised to improve patients care in a MDT setting, at the same time providing educational opportunities for junior doctors. Some of these sessions are chaired by junior doctors as part of their leadership development:
- ATAIN – Every Monday afternoon
- CTG learning – Every Wednesday morning (08:30 to 09:30 hours)
- Oncology MDT – Every Wednesday noon (12:00 Noon to 14:00 hours)
- High risk Obstetrics MDT with anaesthetists – Alternate Tuesday afternoon
- PMRT – Every 2nd and 3rd Friday afternoon of the month
- Obstetrics neurology MDT – Monthly
- Obstetrics rheumatology MDT – 2nd Wednesday every month
- Departmental Teaching: Every Friday afternoon (14:00 to 16:00 hours) (only on call activities to ensure most junior doctors can attend).
Southend Obstetrics and Gynaecology works very closely with our Research and Development Department to promote research trials and studies such as GBS3, ASPRE-T, CaPE, LOCI, Will trial etc.
Working Pattern
The out of hours on-call rota includes – one SHO, one Junior Registrar and one Senior Registrar (20:30 hours to 08:00 hours the following morning). In the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), during the daytime (08:00 hours to 20:30 hours), there is an additional SHO.
The registrars working weeks is approximately 42 hours full time. The rolling rota is a 16-week pattern, and in those 16 weeks, they cover –
Nights (20:30 hours to 08:00 hours the following day) –
Monday to Thursday - twice.
Friday to Sunday – twice.
Long days (08:00 hours to 20:30 hours)
Monday to Thursday - twice.
Friday to Sunday – twice.
The remaining shifts are 09:00 hours to 17:00 hours –
5 days a week – 4 times
3 days a week – 5 times
2 days a week – twice
The SHOs working week is a 9-week rolling rota
Average weeks is 45 hours full time
Over a nine-week period –
Nights (20:30 hours to 08:00 hours the following day) –
Monday to Thursday - once.
Friday to Sunday – once.
Long days (08:00 hours to 20:30 hours)
Monday to Thursday - twice.
Friday to Sunday – twice.
The remaining shifts are –
10:00 hours to 18:00 hours – 2 days a week, once
10:00 hours to 18:00 hours – 3 days a week, once
08:00 hours to 16:00 hours – 4 days a week, twice
10:00 hours to 18:00 hours – 3 days a week, twice.
Southend Hospital provides a wide range of services and training opportunities.
College Tutor:
Ms Sunitha Easwaran
About East and North Herts:
We are a very warm and friendly unit, consisting of seventeen consultants. Whilst we are spread across three hospitals the majority of the work is carrying out at the Lister hospital in Stevenage. The two other hospitals host outpatient clinics.
There is a two tier registrar (Senior and Junior) on call rota and with resident consultants cover between Mondays – Thursday nights, both of which provide great support to both tiers of registrars. The unit is very supportive to ST2’s who are looking at acquiring skills to progress to ST3.
The Labour Ward: The Diamond Jubilee Maternity unit opened in 2011 with a delivery rate of approximately 5,500 a year. It consists of 9 large labouring rooms with a pool room and two theatres well supported by midwifery staff with whom the doctors work very closely. We provide remote CTG monitoring for woman in labour and also try and accommodate woman to deliver in the pool room. There is a separate Triage area and also a Day Assessment unit which are supported by registrars and junior doctors and helps in out-patient management of various obstetric conditions. Our SCBU is a level two unit and able to cater to babies from 27 weeks of gestation. There is the midwifery lead birthing unit which is very popular amongst women who wish to have pool delivery. The elective caesarean section list runs daily and is consultant led providing excellent opportunity for ST1 and ST2 trainees in obtaining competencies in Caesarean sections and also for senior trainees undertaking advanced labour ward ATSM. There is a weekly CTG meeting; joint perinatal meeting and Labour ward forums which all provide with ample teaching and training opportunities. We have monthly Audit meetings where trainees are encouraged to actively participate in audit projects, case presentations well supported by consultants.
Fetal medicine: there are currently three consultants who have fetal medicine clinics and have successfully supported the trainees with the fetal medicine ATSM. There is also a weekly fetal medicine MDT where consultants discuss fetal medicine cases and management.
Woodlands clinic (EPU/Gynaecology emergency): The woodlands clinic was newly built in 2015. It is opened seven days a week, has 5 of supporting nurse practitioners and scanning lists six days a week. In additional to the counselling and assessment rooms it has its own dedicated hyperemesis bay. There is a weekly MDT meeting on Thursday AM to discuss complex cases (PUL) and provide teaching for the juniors. We offer out-patient management of Bartholin’s abscess with Word Catheter and Medical management of Ectopic pregnancy with Methotrexate.
Antenatal Clinics : We have Antenatal clinics running across all sites with specialised Joint Diabetic clinics, Twin Clinics, Perinatal mental health clinics, specialised Maternal medicine clinics to manage woman with Cardiac, Renal and Haematological problems in pregnancy and preterm birth clinic.
Gynaecological clinics and surgery: We have recently become an endometriosis centre and have a consultant who performs advanced laparoscopic procedures. Most of the gynaecology consultants are performing total Laparoscopic hysterectomy and there are about twelve operating lists each week which includes both day cases and inpatient procedures, and the consultant team are keen to give provide training to the trainees to enhance their surgical skills and support various Gynaecology ATSM’s. We provide specialised gynaecology clinics like Endometriosis, urogynaecology including urodynamics and pessary clinic, fertility, recurrent miscarriage clinic. There is a weekly Gynaecology oncology MDT and Uro-gynaecology MDT.
Bancroft suite - we have a dedicated suite for outpatient hysteroscopy and colposcopy lists, run by both consultants and nurse practitioners. These are great opportunities for trainees to increase their skill mix.
Ultrasound Scanning: for both Obstetric and Early pregnancy and Gynaecology scanning, trainees are allocated scanning sessions with the sonographers to ensure completion of their basic log book and to develop their scanning further if desired. In addition there are opportunities to scan in the fetal medicine and early pregnancy clinics with Consultants. We have supported our ST1-3 trainees in completing the Basic Ultrasound log book.
SITMs: we are currently offering: Gynaecology Surgical Care, Endometriosis care, Management of subfertility, Urogynaecology and vaginal surgery, Complex early pregnancy and emergency gynaecology, Management of endometrium, Colposcopy, Chronic pelvic pain, Robotic surgery. Fetal care, Prenatal diagnosis- in conjunction with fetal care, Maternal Medicine- in conjunction with Pregnancy care, Pregnancy care, Care of Prematurity, Perinatal Mental Health,
In addition to the SITM's we encourage trainees to get involved in audits and service improvement projects. On-going projects include the human factors projects and a sepsis campaign.
For Trainees: The unit provides extensive support to the trainees; we have a College Tutor and Deputy College tutor (overseeing the registrar rota) and a separate consultant who oversees the SHO rota. We have eleven Educational Supervisors who provide support to the trainees all through. We have a Robust Induction program led by the college tutor and Weekly teaching bleep free teaching is well supported by the consultant team. The college tutor meets the trainees once a month to discuss any training issues and feedback from these meetings are vital to improve the quality of training. There is a good education centre with computer facilities. There is a Trust Based “Grand Rounds” which provides with excellent teaching opportunities and to interact with trainees from other departments. There is also a Trust Trainee forum.
And finally we would like to say that most of junior trainees have come back to the Trust as senior trainees and you will certainly enjoy your stay at the hospital and will meet your training targets by working in this very supportive and friendly environment. And last but not the least we would like to mention that the consultants interact with trainees socially and we have had some good social meetings outside work.
College Tutor:
Ms Shika Kapur
West Hertfordshire teaching hospitals NHS trust provides training across three sites which are Watford hospital, St Albans hospital and Hemel Hempstead. Most of the job is based at Watford hospital. The labour ward is based at Watford and has a delivery rate of 4000 babies a year. We are a friendly and welcoming trust focused on training and developing your skills.
There is excellent opportunity to train in obstetrics, high risk labour ward and maternal medicine. We are also a cancer centre with excellent training in gynaecology oncology. There is fantastic training in urogynaecology. There is plenty of opportunity to obtain skills in ultrasound scanning and train in early pregnancy and acute gynaecology. We offer robotics laparoscopic training and benign open and laparoscopic surgery along with outpatient hysteroscopy. There is regular teaching every week and we have an ultrasound and laparoscopic simulator.
The night on-call rota has a resident night Consultant from Monday to Thursday along with a registrar and senior house officer. On the weekends there are 2 registrars on-call for nights and one senior house officer with a consultant on-call from home. In the daytime There is a separate labour ward and gynaecology on-call team with a consultant, registrar and senior house officer respectively. The frequency of weekend on-calls is one in four.
For further details please e-mail me and I can answer any queries.
College Tutor:
Ms Saba Al Juboori
I am Miss Saba Al-Juboori, consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Oncologist and College Tutor at QEH King’s Lynn. I was a trainee in this region mainly in the Eastern Part of the Deanery.
King’s Lynn is the capital of West Norfolk and was one of England's most important towns from the 13th century. It is located 98 miles north of London, plus the Royals live 5 miles up the road.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a district general acute hospital with 2,200 deliveries a year serving the communities of West Norfolk, South Lincolnshire and East Cambridgeshire.
We have regular consultant led elective caesarean section lists during the week in addition to specialist antenatal clinics. There are plenty of opportunities for exposure to variety of specialist gynaecological services including: Colposcopy, ambulatory hysteroscopy, post-menopausal bleeding clinics, and ultrasound, urodynamic and pessary clinics. We have regular gynaecology theatres with hands-on experience.
The team is friendly, and we promote supportive environments for all doctors, and we hope you will have fruitful training to accomplish your goals.