The Bath GP VTS - Paediatrics

What the SHOs say

 

We asked recent Bath VTS SHOs to tell us what they thought about the post.

How much did you enjoy the job? Please mark it out of 10 for enjoyment.

8-9 out of 10

What were the best things about the job?

What experience did you get?

Became comfortable in handling sick kids; timetabled to attend 1 clinic per week, though I didn't always get to them; workload is OK, there are 12 SHOs; up to 50% of the time is spent in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), less useful for general practice but I enjoyed it.

How much teaching did you get and how good was it?

2 teaching sessions for SHOs per week, excellent teaching, varied topics, very useful, in protected time, though inevitably the rota means that we can't get to all of them; weekly SHO case presentation; weekly audit/path/X-ray meeting.

How many appraisals did you have? (There should be 3 in each 6-month post.)

360o appraisal; very helpful; some SHOs have had 3 appraisals, some have missed 1 or 2 appraisals.

What was the on-call and rota like?

OK, can be very busy; you stay for the post-take ward-round; super support.

What was the on-call accommodation like?

Good.

Did you manage to get to the GPVTS SHO days and see your GP Trainer during the post?

Managed to get to most/all of the VTS days; difficult to fit in time to visit trainer but managed it.

What were the worst things about the job?

NICU less relevant for general practice, and this can be 50% on the work.

GP Educator's comments?

The Department is well staffed, superbly organised and Dr Steve Jones, the educational supervisor, delivers an excellent teaching programme. Up to 3 months spent in NICU - this is of less value to GP trainees and I'd like to reduce that part of the post. However, overall the experience is of such value to GP trainees that the post remains an important part of the GP VTS.

 

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Last update: 29 August 2007