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
F1 Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes and Endocrinology
The ward provides care to patients with a wide variety of needs, including those with complex
diabetic needs (e.g. newly diagnosed, have very unstable diabetes or who have complications
such as diabetic gastroparesis). Patients may also be admitted for the diagnosis and
treatment of other endocrine conditions such as thyroid and parathyroid disease. Trainees will
also work closely with members of the Diabetes Specialist Team in order to provide ongoing
support for their patients. The diabetes and endocrinology placement provides trainees with
experience of managing patients with long-term conditions- both in terms of their medical
needs but also includes elements of patient education and communication in relation to
lifestyle factors and symptom management. Trainees will also become well practiced in the
safe prescription of insulin. They are likely to develop their knowledge on the impact of
electrolyte and metabolic disorders as well as, exposure to diabetic and endocrine
emergencies.
Location
Luton and Dunstable Hospital- Ward 12
Supervisor(s)
Dr Shiu-Ching Soo
Main duties of
 Attending Morning Handover
the placement
 Taking part in both Post-Take and Consultant led ward rounds.
 Undertake routine jobs such as bloods/cannulae, liase with other specialties and
attend to any jobs identified during ward round
 Book & review investigations
 Review patients and write up prescriptions for patients being discharged
 Updating drug charts, prescribing overnight fluids, warfarin and insulin
 Engaging in discussions with patients and their families
Typical working DEM Ward
pattern in this
Mon:
WR am, Outlier WR,
placement
Medical Meeting 1400 – 1500,
Team in clinic pm
Tues:
WR am, Outlier WR,
Grand Round 1400 – 1500,
Team in clinic pm
Wed:
WR am, Outlier WR,
PPM list pm
Thurs:
WR am, Outlier WR,
Team in clinic pm
Fri:
WR am, Outlier WR,
Team available pm
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)
Sat/Sun:
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.)
Rotas:
F1 ward based rota is a 1:20 full-shift rota
Employer
The employer for this post is Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust which is a
information
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.