Enhancing medical
students’ employment prospects
in rural and remote Wales
SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS
IN WALES
SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS
IN RURAL WALES
LOW FOUNDATION YEARS
APPLICATION RATE
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
SWANSEA UNIVERSITY
Celebrating its 10th anniversary 2014
• Graduate Entry Medicine
• First graduates completing their
degrees this summer.
• St. David’s flag is the basis of the
logo – emphasising the welsh roots
and foundations of the College of
Medicine
GRADUATE ENTRY MEDICINE
SWANSEA UNIVERSITY
•
•
•
•
•
•
SITUATED IN THE CLINICAL SETTING
STUDENT-DRIVEN
SPIRAL
SIMULATING CLINICAL PRACTICE
SMALL
SERVING THE NEEDS OF PATIENTS
AND THE PUBLIC
GRADUATE ENTRY MEDICINE
SWANSEA UNIVERSITY
• Learning weeks – University based with clinical teaching
• Apprenticeships - learn the ‘practice of medicine’
• Specialty Attachments - specialty based
GRADUATE ENTRY MEDICINE
SWANSEA UNIVERSITY
• HOSPITALS
– ABERTAWE
• SINGLETON
• MORRISTON
• CEFN COED
– NEATH PORT TALBOT
– CAERFYRDDIN
– ABERYSTWYTH
– LLANELLI
– HAVERFORDWEST
• GP SURGERIES
– ALL OVER!
RURAL HEALTH IN MEDICAL EDUCATION
IN WALES
RURAL HEALTH IN MEDICAL EDUCATION
IN WALES...RECOMMENDATIONS
o ...RURAL MEDICINE FORMING PART OF THE MEDICAL UNDERGRADUATE
CURRICULUM AND THE FOUNDATION PROGRAMME...
o ...RECOMMEND THE LOCATING OF CAREERS AND TRAINING POSTS, FOR
MEDICAL STUDENTS AND POST-GRADUATE LEVELS, IN RURAL AREAS...
o ...THE LOCATION OF CAREER POSTS HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON WHERE
DOCTORS CHOOSE TO LIVE...AND THE LOCATION OF PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND CAREER POSTS IN RURAL AREAS WOULD PERMIT
A TAILORING OF WORKFORCE SKILLS THAT MATCHES LOCAL NEEDS...
RURAL AND REMOTE HEALTH IN
MEDICAL EDUCATION - RRHIME
The RRHIME Track aims to increase the numbers of students
and doctors practising in rural Wales and raise awareness
amongst the GEM students of the benefits and realities of
living and working in rural and remote areas.
Research indicates that early and deep (‘immersive’)
experience of rural healthcare by medical students and trainee
doctors may facilitate their retention in the rural environment.
RURAL AND REMOTE HEALTH IN
MEDICAL EDUCATION - RRHIME
CURRICULUM ELEMENTS CONTRIBUTING TO RRHIME
•ALL ELEMENTS OF EDUCATION
•PROLONGED IMMERSION
•STUDENT CHOICE
•30% OF THE CURRICULUM
•OUTCOMES ARE IDENTICAL TO NON-RRHIME CURRICULUM
WELSH LANGUAGE IN
MEDICAL EDUCATION - WHY?
Health



More than Just Words:
Strategic Framework for
Welsh Language Services
(2011)
response to Frances Report
(2013)
NHS’ commitment (2011) to
develop Welsh language
services
Education
•
•
Enhanced opportunities for
students to study through
the medium of Welsh
through the Welsh
Government Vision for HE
(2009)
CCC funding support for
developing Welsh medium
higher education
WELSH LANGUAGE IN
MEDICAL EDUCATION - WHY?
“It is important for people working in health, social service and
social care to recognise that many people can only
communicate their care needs effectively through the medium
of Welsh. For many Welsh speakers, being able to use your own
language has to be seen as a core component of care, not an
optional extra.” (More than Words, Welsh Assembly
Government, 2012).
WELSH LANGUAGE IN
MEDICAL EDUCATION - SWANSEA
Curriculum-embedded






Welsh medium interviews
Personal tutorials
placement opportunities
 LOCS, LORS, CBL,
Apprenticeships, Speciality
Attachments
Assessments
Building into the academic
framework
Patient facing information for
student projects
Extra Curricular
•
•
Welsh language for medicine
course
• grant awarded to develop
interactive resources
Swansea Medical Society
WELSH LANGUAGE IN
MEDICAL EDUCATION - BENEFITS?
•Increased awareness of Welsh-language needs in the health
service
•Confident in using Welsh in a professional and clinical setting
•Gain knowledge in understanding the linguistic barriers
encountered in the healthcare service.
IMPACT?
PERCENTAGE OF SWANSEA MEDICAL GRADUATES STAYING IN WALES FOR
FOUNDATION TRAINING
THANK YOU
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
H.F.IAGO@SWANSEA.AC.UK
07712641447