MODULES, TRAINING AND EDT

Educational Supervisors

You will be allocated an Educational Supervisor within the Department, and it's usually best to be proactive and contact them - try to arrange a meeting within the first two weeks to construct a PDP with you (which should be uploaded onto your LLP).
There is an initial meeting document which should be completed and uploaded to record this meeting which your ES should have access to.
You should have structured initial, mid-point and final meetings with your ES.
They can provide or access advice on career development, help with e-portfolio requirements, such as case-based discussions, and will prepare for your ARCP with you.
They will feedback on your performance and they are your first port of call if you have problems or any issues.
Remember not to leave your MSF, MTR or the ESSR to the last minute! Your ESSR for the ARCP should be signed off by your ES at least 3-4 weeks before your ARCP, which means going through it with them about a month before! The College Tutors need to receive it a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the ARCP date.

We provide guidance for Consultants on how to approach ESSRs/ARCPs on the Trainers section of this website - you can access this here and we implore you to do so!

Training

There will be specific training needs for each stage of the curriculum, which will vary between trainees. To ensure you get the most out of your time at NBT, we arrange a modular system to enable everyone equal training opportunities. You can apply to specific modules via the College Tutor team and we will do the best to accommodate your requests during your time at NBT.

Modules

3 months Neuro (Stage 2 only) – usually split as 6 weeks neuroanaesthesia and 6 weeks neuro ICU. Most will have the opportunity to join the neuro on call tier during this time.
General: one month urology (including transplant), vascular, ortho/spines and trauma, general (includes plastics and burns)
Three months ICU
1 week perioperative medicine (Stage 2 only)
1 week pain (Stage 2 only)
Obstetrics – All stages of training accommodated.

Modules are entered onto the rota and requests can be added or modules changed. They are not set in stone, and if you are struggling to get things signed off, things can be rearranged, which includes special requests e.g. POAC, bariatric surgery etc. Email the weekly rota writers.

Weekly Rotas

The weekly rotas are written by 4 consultants who manage a week each. The week, and their initials, are at the top of each rota. Further details here.

The College Tutors will allocate your Modules and you will be rostered within those as much as possible. You will receive a mixture of training lists and supported solo lists. You will always be doubled up when on call during the day, but these are not counted in your training list numbers. You will be rostered to specific lists in Vascular, Neuro or popular modules. Otherwise, you will be allocated to Self Roster lists to cater for your own training needs (within your designated module).

If allocated to a solo list, a trainee who is less experienced (definitely CT1/2 and usually CT3/ST3) will be allocated a specific Mentor in a nearby theatre. This will also be the case if a more senior trainee has a challenging list or is relatively new to the module. All other trainees will be mentored by the coordinating Consultant who carries bleep 9030 every day and fully expects to pop into theatre for the odd induction, troubleshoot lists or help where needed.

Indirectly supervised lists

The RCOA has recently issue guidance regarding appropriate frequency of indirectly supervised lists according to stage of training:

Stage 1: you should be "given the opportunity" to run an indirectly-supervised list once or twice a week
Stage 2: you should "expect to have one or two independent lists per week"
Stage 3: "ideally... at least two indirectly supervised lists a week with an opportunity to have more junior AiTs allocated to the list to become familiar with simultaneously running a list and training"

This may be difficult to achieve at times due to complexity of cases, but the onus is on you to negotiate with your consultant on doubled-up lists as to whether it would be suitable for you to proceed with indirect supervision.

The RCOA document can be found here. There is also a complementary document from the Association, Guidance on solo working: tips for anaesthetists in training and SAS doctors.

Self-rostering

This enables trainees to be exposed to some more specific learning opportunities. Please follow your module allocations (see spreadsheet on wall outside coffee room) to ensure everyone gets an opportunity to attend the relevant lists. If you have a self-roster slot, once the rota is published you can email the secretaries and put your requests in. It is worth putting a back-up in case for some reason you cannot do your first choice. Please self-roster within your current modules.

CLW shows your name with a red arrow next to it (App) or purple arrow (desktop version).

EDT Sessions

Educational development time is written into the trainee on-call rota and allocated on a pro-rata basis.

Stages 1 & 2: 16 x 5-hour session (half day) per annum
Stage 3: 32 x 5-hour sessions (half day) per annum
Novices receive stage 1 EDT allowance once contributing to the on-call rota

The day on which EDT will occur is written into the on-call rotas by Drs David Agombar (2nd and 3rd on-call rotas) and Tim Walker (1st and obstetric rotas). To facilitate the daily staffing levels, our weekly rota coordinators have the flexibility to alter whether you are given an EDT session in the morning or afternoon of your allocated day. In general this should not be moved; however if you have specific requirements which mean you wish to move it, you can request this via the secretaries and the on-call rota writers provided this request is made >4 weeks prior to the date. Beyond this time the weekly rotas are set up and it is not reasonable to ask to move as this will impact on service.

A plan for your EDT time should be discussed with your ES and documented on your LLP.

You will be asked at ARCP to provide evidence of how you have used your EDT for the year.

EDT is not "refundable" - if you are unable to use the session you cannot have another one scheduled as we don't have the capacity. This is analagous to not receiving an extra theatre training list in the event you were unable to attend e.g. due to illness.

List Changes on the Day

On days when you are first, second or third on you will be the first trainees moved if something needs covering, or to help with issues as they arise. This is because an on-call day is classed as service provision, but we try and encourage training lists to continue if possible. It also prevents the same trainees always being asked to help out!

There will be rare occasions when you’re not on call, but we need to ask you to cover another list or help somewhere. If you are moved off your training list at short notice, please let the College Tutors know. It helps to inform management of staff shortages and they will try to ensure your learning needs are met another day, even if this means taking the on-call bleep from you.

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