North Central Thames Foundation School (NCTFS)
Individual Placement Description – West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS 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
Employer
information
F2 Paediatrics
Paediatric Department, Watford General Hospital
Most F2s will spend half of the placement on the general side and half on the neonatal side.
You will be supported by a Registrar at all times. In addition there is a consultant of the week
rota, with daily consultant ward rounds on the acute ward, neonatal unit and emergency
department.
General Paediatrics – The mainstay of this is admitting acutely unwell children via the
Children’s Emergency Department and managing their care on the ward. You will learn to
assess a sick child, and perform procedures such as cannulation and lumbar puncture. A
multidisciplinary approach means that we try to highlight the biopsychosocial nature of
paediatric practice.
Neonates: Although this might seem esoteric, most F2 trainees enjoy their time on the unit.
You will focus on attending deliveries, neonatal resuscitation, care of the normal newborn and
management of the premature and sick baby.
Obviously, there is an expectation that you will also complete the administrative tasks that are
required.
Other than the myriad learning opportunities of working with families there are:
 Daily consultant led handover and Ward Round
 A weekly multi-disciplinary round
 Weekly Paediatric teaching
 Weekly Psychosocial meeting
 Weekly X Ray Meeting
 Monthly Clinical governance session
 Ability to attend general and specialist out patient clinics
 Specific teaching for MRCPCH
 ‘Journal Club’
 Resuscitation training
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Watford General Hospital
Dr Anthony Cohn
 Clerking children in CED
 Ensuring safe admission: E.g. Prescribing safely.
 Regular review of admitted patients
 Communicating with children, families and the team
 Listening to the concerns of all team members
 Ensuring discharge summaries/TTOs completed in timely manner
Full shift
EWTD compliant
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust was formed on 1 April 2000 following the merger of
St Albans and Hemel Hempstead NHS Trust and Mount Vernon and Watford NHS Trust.
The Trust is one of the largest organisations in West Hertfordshire, employing around 4000
members of staff, serving a catchment population of around 500,000 and receiving over
1million visitors each year.
The Trust manages three hospitals:
 Hemel Hempstead Hospital
 St Albans City Hospital
 Watford General Hospital
We provide general healthcare and some specialist services and have close links with
specialist hospitals, such as Harefield.
It is important to note that this description is a typical example of your placement and may be subject to
change.