Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is based in a new PFI hospital, The Great Western Hospital, we also have some rehabilitation beds at Savernake Hospital in the nearby town of Marlborough. The Great Western has good access links, it is based at junction 14 of the M4 and has a regular bus service to Swindon.
Our CMT Programme is a 2 year rotation with Royal United Hospital in Bath. Trainees do either CT1 or CT2 in Swindon.
We have posts in Cardiology, Respiratory, Gastroenterology, ICU, Elderly Care, Endocrinology and Acute Medicine. Posts are allocated according to trainee requirements as far as possible.
Respiratory
Respiratory medicine is based on Saturn Ward. There are currently 5 Consultants in the department. We have a sixth Consultant ,Dr Juniper, who is based in ICU but does some Respiratory clinics.. Dr Onyirioha is Head of Dept and leads on COPD. Dr Mackinlay is our Lung Cancer Lead and College Tutor. Drs Stanton, Kerry and Jones all have varied interests in Undergraduate Education, Pleural disease and EBUS. We have 2 Respiratory ST3+ , a GPST2, an F1 and 2 Specialist Respiratory nurses plus Specialist Nurses in Sleep and Lung cancer on the team. We have a variety of Respiratory patients on our ward and at the end of a four month attachment our trainees have a good understanding and feel confident in the of management of Tracheostomies, Chest Drains and Non-invasive Ventilation. We have a close working relationship with our palliative care team. There is a weekly Respiratory Teaching session for an hour on Friday lunchtime.
Our CMT doctor does an alternate week general respiratory clinic with 3 new patients and 3 ward follow ups. There is ample time allowed for discussion and guidance from the Consultant in clinic.
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is based on half of Mercury Ward. There are two Consultants, Dr Bhattachariya and Dr Ahmed who both have interests across diabetes and endocrinology. There are 2 ST3+, a GPST2 and an F1 on the team. Diabetes is well supported by a number of Specialist Nurses. The CMT has opportunities to do Clinics in Diabetes and ward follow up patients, with good teaching support. There are training opportunities in Diabetes and it’s complications and some experience of more complex endocrinological problems.
Dept of Care for the Elderly (DOME)
These posts are based on either Woodpecker or Jupiter Wards. There are 5 DOME Consultants and a separate Stroke tea based on Falcon ward. There are opportunities to do clinics in general geriatrics, TIA/ Stroke and falls. Dome includes a thriving orthogeriatrics service. Dr Mukherjee has an interest in Movement disorders( Parkinson’s) and heart failure. Dr Finch runs the rehabilitation beds at Savernake and covers beds on Woodpecker ward. Dr Watson runs the orthogeriatrics and falls departments. There is a teaching session on Friday afternoon. We are recruiting more consultants currently.
Gastroenterology
The Gastro team are based on Neptune Ward. The team has 5 Consultants . Drs Shetty, Hegde, Bowles and Claridge both do inpatient general medicine and gastroenterology. Dr Hanson does only outpatient work. There is a wide range of Gastroenterology on Neptune, trainees become competent at Ascitic Drain insertion, Management of GI Bleeds, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Management of patients with Decompensated Liver Disease. There are 2 ST3+, a Clinical Fellow, F2 and F1 and a number of specialist nurses in the Team. Training opportunities available in Gastro clinic.
ICU
Trainees take part in a full shift rota on ICU – learning advanced airway skills and management of the acutely unwell, ventilated patient. There is also excellent training in invasive monitoring, sedation techniques, renal replacement therapy, resuscitation and inotropic support. There is plenty of opportunity for experience in various procedures eg central venous cannulation.
AMU
All medical admissions are clerked in our AMU based on Linnet ward. We have am and pm ward rounds by AMU Consultants and On call Physicians. There are 6 Consultants. There are fantastic training opportunities in assessment and management of acute admissions. The Consultants are present during an extended working day allowing plenty of support/teaching for the junior doctors. Our AMU team also run a thriving Ambulatory care department and a short stay ward.
Cardiology
We have a thriving Cardiology department with 6 Consultants, 2 specialist registrars, 2 specialty doctors, 1 F2 doctor and the 3 CMT posts.
The Wiltshire Cardiac Centre is at the heart of the Great Western Hospital and looks forward to welcoming you. We run two cath labs performing angiograms, percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and pacemakers. On the non invasive side we have an excellent team of cardiac physiologists using the latest echo machines providing 7 day a week echocardiography and exercise testing.
There are plenty of training opportunities. We have many patients admitted with an acute coronary syndrome giving an excellent opportunity to gain experience in their management on the daily, consultant led, CCU ward rounds. Practical training is available in the following techniques (according to grade): Temporary pacing, echocardiography, permanent pacing, coronary angiography and PCI. There is a weekly teaching programme on a Wednesday lunchtime.
CMT Programme
All of our Core Medical Trainees are expected to attend a two hour teaching programme on Thursday Lunchtime. There is also a medical Grand Round on Monday lunchtime. They are also welcome to attend individual departmental teaching sessions.
We have a PACES Teaching Programme and have a good pass rate.
Views of a current Trainee: "The training programme offers a wide range of training opportunities through the major medical specialities. By completion, I will feel confident to be an ST3 and run the medical take." Dr Adam Usher
Royal College Tutor and CMT Lead – Dr Carolyn Mackinlay
Postgraduate Tutor - Mr Deepak Gupta