I moved to Cambridge from London following the first three years of my registrar training. Right from the beginning I found the neonatal unit in Addenbrooke’s to be very welcoming and full of supportive medical and nursing staff. Although one of the neonatal consultants is designated as your educational supervisor, the general ethos of the unit is such that all the consultants are involved in ensuring that your training needs are met and that you have an enjoyable time meeting them!

The combination of clinical services provided at Addenbrooke’s mean that many opportunities are offered to you as a grid trainee. As well as a comprehensive neonatal service which provides tertiary neonatal care, there are also facilities for neonatal surgery and neurosurgery. Whilst in Cambridge, other varied and excellent training opportunities include experience in fetal medicine and genetics, neonatal neurology and neurodevelopment, neonatal and infant cardiology, neonatal nutrition and perinatal risk and governance. I have found that the rota allows you to make use of these opportunities thus as well as a good range of practical experience, it is possible to develop a specialist interest in these or other areas.

The neonatal grid post is based at Addenbrooke’s Hospital but can also include time spent with the Acute Neonatal Transport Service, a 24 hour service which provides dedicated neonatal transport to the East of England. Personally I found this experience to be invaluable in developing my clinical practice. There is nothing like being in an ambulance with a senior member of nursing staff managing a sick baby on nitric oxide to improve your decision making skills and enhance your clinical acumen.

As well as clinical work there is plenty of opportunity to become involved in research. I have personally been involved in grant applications, study design, ethics approval, patient recruitment and consent as well as co-authoring papers. A number of the middle grade doctors are currently employed in a part time research, part time clinical capacity which is fully supported by the team.

The combination of these plentiful opportunities has made my time in Cambridge extremely fruitful. It is a great place to work, a lovely place to live and overall I would have no hesitation in recommending a Neonatal Medicine Grid position here.