7th September

Always good to have a refresher and this week Consultant Mandatory Training came round again for most of us in T&O. Just as we were going over the principles of Information Governance, elsewhere in the NHS a sensitive data breach took place, showing how easy it is for this to happen: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/articles/34130294

Mandatory Training is also the chance for Consultants to go over resuscitation skills, with Mr Khaleel, Mr Chana @RishiChana and Mr Michael @DeanMichael1971 clearly enjoying themselves:

Resuscitation Officer Paul Wills introduced us to the Lifesaver app, which tests your skills and has increased non-medics' confidence in approaching emergencies: Lifesaver Mobile by Unit9

https://appsto.re/gb/xeHYL.i

Self-directed learning

Medicine across all specialities is a process of life-long learning. A popular misconception, regular evident through the @gmcuk GMC NT Survey, is that teaching is only thought to have taken place if it is didactic and lecture-style.

Once out of medical school, every single patient interaction offers an opportunity for learning. Senior colleagues talking at you is often the least efficient or interesting way of gaining knowledge. 

There has been a substantial increase in posts at SHO-level in all the surgical specialities @ASPH. This offers an unparalleled chance to get to out-patient sessions, go the elective and emergency theatres, spend time with our radiologists whilst reporting, learn to put casts on with our plaster technicians, get to understand the process of taking and interpreting nerve conduction studies, get stuck into an audit project that interests you... 

... or you could have long lunch breaks.

There is so much out there, with interesting skilled people keen to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for what they do, it would be a waste not to maximise your educational time with us.

I'm looking forward to seeing from your portfolios how you take advantage of this time to broaden the practical, clinical depth of your knowledge. 

Surgeon of the Week

This week I'm introducing Mr Shashi Irukulla @nulife_surgery seen here with our Bariatric Specialist Nurse Sr Natasha Smith

Shashi is an Upper GI, laparoscopic and Bariatric surgeon, and is the local Programme Director for our Higher Surgical Trainees in HEKSS. He is currently redesigning our local teaching programme, hoping to start grand rounds and I will update you here of local sessions.

Forthcoming Attractions

ATLS® is a multidisciplinary course enabling a standardised language of trauma care across the specialties. Open to FY2s and above, it is an essential requirement for CST applications and needs revisiting every 5 years, so courses get booked up pretty far in advance. Here are courses that as of 6th Sept still had places available, till the end of the year: