The Simulation Centre, in Colvin Gardens, Chingford, will be used to expand the capabilities of the Trust to deliver simulation based training in the field of mental and community health.
Simulation was initially used in medicine in the 16th century by obstetricians and gynaecologists. However, it had a resurgence in the 19th century initially in the field of anaesthesia and currently there are a number of simulation centres for general medicine.
The use of simulation based training in psychiatry and community health is an area of increasing interest and NELFT is taking a leading role in developing simulation based training programmes.
Given the crisis in recruitment into psychiatry, I wanted to hear how a group of CT1 and CT2 psychiatrists perceived their chosen specialty. Could they recommend it?
The Broadening the Foundation Programme report has led to an expansion in the number of psychiatry foundation placements. This change will have far-reaching benefits for foundation doctors doing psychiatry, no matter what their future career intentions. Doctors will develop a better understanding of mental illness, they will improve their communication skills and they will gain experience of working within multidisciplinary teams. Recruitment into psychiatry is also likely to improve. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is putting in place a number of measures to ensure that placements are of a high quality so that foundation doctors have a good experience of psychiatry.
During postgraduate training, general practitioners and other specialists must learn how to deliver shared care to patients; however, the development of formal intraprofessional education is often hampered by curricular constraints. Delivering shared care in everyday work provides trainees with opportunities for informal learning from, about and with one another.
Smartphones are ubiquitous and commonly used as a learning and information resource. They have potential to revolutionize medical education and medical practice. The iDoc project provides a medical textbook smartphone app to newly-qualified doctors working in Wales. The project was designed to assist doctors in their transition from medical school to workplace, a period associated with high levels of cognitive demand and stress.