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)
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placement
Typical working
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Employer
information
F1 Paediatrics
The L&D’s paediatric services are part of the Women’s and Children’s Division. The
Paediatric Unit has 54 beds, including a 5-bedded Paediatric Admissions Unit for children up
to the age of 16 years.
The F1 in Paediatrics works 08.30 to 17.00. They are involved across the unit with all patient
care.
The unit is divided into 3 wards and the assessment unit. One ward is dedicated to day care
procedures and the other two are used for the overnight patients. On these wards there is a
daily consultant led ward round where there are opportunities to present a history, observe an
examination by the consultant and to learn from discussions had with the patients/parents.
This is then supported by teaching on the case after the examination. This leads to the
potential of case based clinical teaching.
Within the ward and PAU F1 trainees will be writing fluids and drug prescriptions, which are
checked and supervised by the Specialty Trainee/Consultant and also by the paediatric
pharmacist. There are guidelines available for the management of common paediatric
problems on the desk top within the department. The team work closely with the nursing staff
but also with physiotherapists, specialist nurses, community nurses and social services. There
is therefore ample opportunity to work within a team. Trainees are encouraged to present and
discuss cases at the grand round which is attended by all consultants – within this setting
there is discussion re-difficult ethical issues around DNARs and safeguarding. Cases
transferred acutely to other units are also discussed in detail - this lends itself to continued
learning for the team. There is a Paediatric audit lead who allocates trainees with a supervised
audit project. The education opportunities available to the F1 during their attachment on the
ward and in PAU range from history taking, examination and creating a management plan. All
acute and planned admissions onto the unit are discussed with the Specialty Trainee and
Consultant leading to teaching and training opportunities. The Paediatric team attends all
Paediatric resuscitations in the Emergency Department, with F1s encouraged to partake.
Paediatric procedures are limited and include blood taking, insertion of IV cannulas, and
lumber puncture. These are supervised for trainees so can be assessed and added to your
portfolio. F1s are encouraged to attend all the teaching available to the trainees within the
department and also as required by the Trust and Foundation Programme Directors
(resuscitation training, departmental teaching, Specialty Trainee teaching) on the unit.
Luton & Dunstable Hospital – Paediatric Unit
Dr Nisha Nathwani or Dr Anita Modi
Attend handover am/pm, assist the Consultants and Specialty Trainees with ward rounds –
undertake the jobs generated from the ward round. Take histories and examine patients under
supervision at Ward Rounds and on PAU. Clerk patients admitted to the ward.
Perform cannulations/ venepuctures. Present cases at Paediatric Grand Round. Update the
team at Grand round regarding details and progress of patients at – tertiary hospitals who
have been acutely transferred. Undertake audits.
Mon:
Ward Round. X-ray meeting
Tues:
Junior doctor teaching. Ward Round. Hospital Grand round
Wed:
Resus training. Ward Round, Departmental teaching.
Thurs:
Ward Round. Grand Round – Case presentations.
Fri:
Ward Round
Sat:
OFF
Sun:
OFF
Rotas:
Day shifts 0830 – 1700
The employer for this post is Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust which 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.