North Central Thames Foundation School (NCTFS)
Individual Placement Description - Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Placement
The department
The type of work
to expect and
learning
opportunities
Location
Supervisor(s)
Main duties of the
placement
Typical working
pattern in this
placement
F1 Acute Internal Medicine with Geriatric Medicine
Emergency Assessment Unit and DME Wards
Trainees will spend their first 2 months working in either EAU (our acute internal
medicine ward) or the Department for Elderly Medicine (DME). They will then swap
departments for the final 2 months of the placement.
All medical patients on EAU are managed under the care of the three Acute
Physicians. Patients requiring longer stay or care in a specialist ward are transferred
to the appropriate unit within 48 hours of admission. Foundation Trainees will provide
acute general medical care to patients within the EAU ward setting. Foundation
Trainees in EAU participate in the assessment, investigation and management of a
wide variety of acutely unwell patients. Trainees can expect to develop their skills in
carrying out clinical procedures such as; chest drains, pleural and ascetic taps, as well
as taking bloods and cannulation. Trainees will also gain experience of making
referrals, liaising with other medical teams, completing TTAs, as well as writing up
Electronic Discharge Letters.
F1’s in DME will be responsible, along with the rest of the team for the medical care of
patients on the ward and will be ward based during the normal working day. Trainees
will develop their skills in the management of patients who will typically present with
chronic disease and/or multiple co-morbidities associated with old age. Trainees will
also gain experience in dealing with other medical teams and members of the MDT,
such as Palliative Care and Discharge Planning teams. Further, learning insights are
likely to be gained in ethical decision making, such as DNAR’s and mental capacity.
Luton and Dunstable Hospital- Ward 1 (EAU) and Wards 14, 15, 16 or 17
Trainees will be allocated an appropriate Clinical Supervisor
 Providing weekend and On-Call cover
 Updating ward lists, including Post-Take
 Attending general and post-take ward rounds with Consultant/ Registrar
 Booking and following up on investigations as results come in
 Writing up prescriptions and electronic discharge letters for patients being
discharged
 Ensure that patients are reviewed by other specialties when needed.
 Updating drug charts, prescribing overnight fluids, warfarin and insulin
 Engaging in discussions with patients and their families
DME Ward
Mon:
WR Consultant 1 usually all day
Medical Meeting 1400 – 1500
Tues:
WR Consultant 2, Grand Round 1400 – 1500
pm Jobs
Wed:
Reg ward round
DME Radiology meeting 1400 – 1500
Thurs:
WR Consultant 1 usually all day
Clinical Governance Meeting 1400 – 1500
Fri:
WR Consultant 2
DME Departmental Educational Meeting 1400 – 1500
pm Jobs
Acute Block (EAU)
Mon:
Post take WR, Jobs, Medical Meeting 1400 – 1500
Tues:
Post take WR, Jobs, Grand Round 1400 – 1500
Wed:
Post take WR, Jobs,
Thurs:
Post take WR, Jobs,
Fri:
Post take WR, Jobs,
Across all rotations – there are on-calls:
Mon-Fri:
0900 – 2200 – 0900-1600 base wards – 1600-2200 EAU clerking
0900 – 2200 EAU clerking (to be confirmed)
0900 – 2200 – Ward cover weekends
(Jobs, review of sick patients)
Sat/Sun:
0830 – 1600 – Weekend ward cover
(EAU post take ward round, jobs, clerking)
Nights:
2030 – 0900 – Fri-Sun or Mon-Thurs
(covering 12 medical wards, ward jobs, unwell patients etc.)
Employer
The employer for this post is Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust which
information
is a highly rated acute hospital located conveniently close to major hubs in South
Bedfordshire. We serve a local population of over 350,000 from Luton, Dunstable,
together with other towns and villages in the South Bedfordshire & North Hertfordshire
region. About 30% of Luton’s population are from cultural and ethnic minority
backgrounds and this coupled with the high deprivation found in Luton means our local
population display diseases and conditions which are more usually associated with
those of an inner city area.
It is important to note that this description is a typical example of your placement and may be subject
to change.
Sat/Sun: