NW Thames Foundation School
Individual Placement Description
The information in this document is based on the experience of the FY2s that have recently
completed this post. The views expressed in this document are not necessarily those of the
West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust. It is important to note that this description
may be subject to change.
Placement
F2 General Surgery
The department
The WMUH surgical department comprises of
5 consultants and 3 teams (Colorectal, Breast
and General Surgery).
The General Surgery / Breast Surgery Team
consists of 2 Consultants, 4 SpRs, 2 FY2s and
3 FY1s.
There is no vascular unit at this Trust.
All consultants cover surgical on-calls and
have general surgical lists, as well as the
specialist areas above.
Trust & Site
West Middlesex University Hospital. Wards
Syon 1 & 2.
The type of work to expect and
learning opportunities
As an FY2, you are largely expected to be in
clinic, theatres and helping the FY1s on the
ward, when not on call.
When on call you take all referrals for general
surgery and will assist on the emergency
theatre list.
Learning opportunities include:
 Basic Surgical Skills course run by Mr.
Smith at WMUH.
 Theatre work – learn surgical skills.
 Practical procedures plentiful & local
anaesthetic list run by SHO.
 Clinic – specialist breast and general
surgery.
 Teaching responsibility to medical students.
There is lots to learn with practical aspects of
theatre, and many practical procedures which
take place in clinics.
Clinical Supervisor(s) for the
placement*
Main duties of the placement
Either Mr. Salaki or Mr Jason Smith.
Typical working pattern in this
placement
Daily:
Ward round daily 08:00 – 09:00. If no SpR or
consultant is available, it is the SHOs
responsibility to carry out the ward round.
 General Surgical SHO.
 On call duty. During day on-calls cover
general surgery and occasionally Urology
(depending on cover).
 Night on-calls cover general surgery,
urology and ENT. From 10pm there is no
SpR surgical cover on-site in the hospital
(contactable by phone if required).
 Consultant led clinics
 Teaching
 Attending MDT meetings.
 Theatres: Assist in theatres on consultant
and SpR theatre lists.
 Attend ward-round and help on wards.
Endoscopy 09:00 – 13:00 for Mr Smith’s FY2
The SHO will assist other teams in theatre or
clinic when required.
Monday:
Clinic 09:00 – 17:00. Prepare MDT in
afternoon.
Tuesday:
MDT, local anaesthetic list (08:30 – 17:30) &
clinic.
Wednesday:
Theatre 08:30 – 17:30. FY2 teaching every
week at 13:00.
Thursday:
Theatre 09:00 – 13:00. Clinic 14:00 – 17:00.
Friday:
Clinic, ward cover and Surgical Academic
Meeting in the afternoon.
Saturday and Sunday:
08:00 – 20:00 1 week in 5.
On call requirements:
Day Shift (08:00 – 20:00) Approximately 1-2
per week.
Nights (20:00 – 08:00) Approximately 1 set of
nights per month (4 week days or 3 over
weekend)
Plenty of locum opportunity.
Employer information
West Middlesex University Hospital,
Twickenham Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7
6AF.
The West Middlesex Hospital is an award
winning acute teaching hospital that provides a
full range of hospital services to the London
Boroughs of Hounslow and Richmond upon
Thames. It serves a local population of around
425,000 people and the hospital has over 400
beds.
* Please note that at this Trust the role of the Educational and Clinical Supervisor is merged
into one role. One Educational Supervisor is allocated per placement.