StR/ SpR POST DETAILS 2009-2010

DESCRIPTION OF PLACEMENT

This is a Neuropsychiatry post based at Hope hospital. Previously this post was mostly given to LD trainees and they did not get involved in inpatient general adult psychiatry at Meadowbrook.
However, due to the requirements for the ARCP competencies there are some modifications being made to the structure of this post.

Currently I am doing 2 sessions in General adult psychiatry at Meadowbrook inpatient unit covering Dr Hackett’s patients. There is an ST1-3 trainee in covering the general adult side but not for the Neuropsychiatry part.

Neuropsychiatry part of the job is mainly outpatient work but you will also see referral on Neurology wards .

DUTIES OF SPR AND EXPERIENCE GAINED

Exposure to various Neuropsychiatric and general neurology conditions. You will get an opportunity to discuss all cases with Dr Hackett. As he is very passionate about the work, he encourages trainees to learn and maintain good working knowledge of the subject.

There is no separate outpatient list for trainees as of now and therefore you will see patients in the same clinic with Dr Hackett. There will be ample chances for the trainees to see new referrals in Neuropsychiatry clinic, epilepsy clinic and sleep disorder clinic. There is a possibility that a out let Neuropsychiatry clinic at Preston will start soon, which can be run by trainee under Dr Hackett’s supervision.

There is a well structured and resourced Neurosciences department at Hope hospital with Cerebral functioning Unit, EEG, Neuroradiology etc. There will be opportunities to do special interest sessions in these departments.

Trainee will also get a chance to go to Movement disorder clinic once a week.

General adult psychiatry work entail covering inpatient wards including PICU.


ON CALL COMMITMENT

This is currently 1 in 11 (to be confirmed with other trainees). On call duties cover Measowbrook for general adult and old age patients, rarely substance misuse unit at Wentworth house. Section 136 patients are seen at Hope hospital A&E and there is a requirement that all section 136 patients must be seen by second oncall doctors .There is always 3rd oncall consultant.
Pay banding is 1C, which is not too attractive.

TEACHING / ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Hope hospital is a teaching hospital .Generally medical students and foundation trainees are posted to Meadowbrook. There will be opportunities to run PBL sessions and other teaching sessions.

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Neuropsychiatry is a vast speciality with many uncertainties. Most of the treatment regimes are based on case reports and case series. Dr Hackett encourages trainees to generate research questions pertaining to Neuropsychiatry and he could assist with data collection. There are clinical research fellows attached to Neurology and trainee can get a chance to attach oneself to an ongoing project.

MANAGEMENT TRAINING

Currently second oncall rota is being managed by a trainee. So, there is this opportunity for the future trainees.

Trainee can get involved in steering groups and other clinical governance matters.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE AVAILABLE

This is a very interesting and educative post. There will be once weekly joint Neurology/neuroradiology meetings, which is very educative. Trainee can be a part of once monthly epilepsy surgery meetings .

If one chooses to attend Neuropsychology, there will be once weekly meeting of joint neurology and neuropsychologists, which again is very educative.

PROBABLE TRAINEE TIMETABLE

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL DETAILS

I was told by my trainer that there are not many Neuropsychiatry posts and therefore it is important that trainee uses this post to gain neuropsychiatry skills in order to use it in their own core specialty.
But those who wishes to be a neuropsychiatrist, I strongly recommend this post.

As I am now doing some inpatient general adult work, I suppose I could project that as core training.