Dear EoE T&O Trainees,
Teaching will now take place as a full days approximately once per month, moving away from the previous Thursday afternoon arrangement. Along with the change in time slots the intention is to encourage the use of different teaching methods for the all-day sessions, including small group discussion, clinical presentation and examination, practical sessions and vivas, will be far more effective in education – along the model of a standard AO course (and for the same reasons).
The reasons for the changes are multi factorial. With the repatriation of many hospitals to the rotation the need for change been heightened to make allowance for these hospitals not having the registrar’s free already on a Thursday afternoon.
The change should enhance clinical opportunities within your allocated hospital on Thursday afternoons. Thus enabling you to attend key clinical commitments on Thursdays. In addition, local hospitals should look to use the “free” Thursday afternoons for in-house sessions – which could include plaster training, mentoring etc.
Leave
Dates will be emailed in advance (as and when they are confirmed) to allow Trainees sufficient time to book leave. Hospitals will be required to make arrangements to allow all trainees to attend.
Clinical Viva Day
An annual viva exam will be arranged with the aim of allowing Trainees to experience an FRCS style exam scenario to give you an appreciation of what is required.
Going forward this day will be organised by the post FRCS trainees.
Basic Science
Trainees are encouraged to attend the Cambridge FRCS basic science course as observers. This is due to run on 15-17th March and having spoken to Vikas Khanduja local trainees will get a preferential rate.
Anglian Ruskin University will hopefully be able to provide a healthcare management day for the trainees to occur in January 2017.
All the subspecialty teaching days will be centred around clinical cases, including the ST6s & ST7s to examine in front of their peers, which can move around the region as has occurred successfully in previous terms.
It would be prudent for the education committee to know of the various funds available but also to build partnerships with industry to support the educational program in the future.
Feedback from trainees with be sought in advance of the July STC so their reaction to this year can be minuted, and help with the development of the teaching program next year.