F1, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
| What programme are you doing? | Surgery, Cardiology, EAU, Care of the Elderly |
| Why did you pick this Trust? | I wanted to stay in Severn because it’s the area in which I trained and I love Bristol. Working in Weston allows me to commute from Bristol and I wanted to start working in a small DGH to build up my skills and confidence |
| What's the area like? | Weston has a large elderly population so the majority of patients are older |
| What's the best thing about your Trust? | Weston is a small and incredibly friendly hospital. You end up getting to know everyone which is really lovely |
| And the worst? | Sometimes there is a lack of senior support on the wards, meaning that we don’t always get the supervision and teaching that I had hoped for |
| What advice would you give someone about to start in your Trust? | If you are commuting from Bristol, make sure you buy a card for the Clifton suspension bridge as it saves you a lot of money!
Being organised is probably the most important thing, this will get easier as you learn how the hospital works. Never be afraid to ask for help, people are always happy to help out. Always make time for a break and don’t forget to eat, you will work much better. Start on your e-portfolio early. When on call, I always carry the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine and I make sure that I bring chocolate or something similar. I couldn’t get by without them! |
| What's the typical patient profile? | Either an older person with worsening CCF or an elderly person with confusion, often caused by an infection |
| Describe your job in one word | Brilliant |
F2, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
|
What programme are you doing? |
Academic F2 - Liaison Psychiatry, Academic Psychiatry, Sexual Health |
|
Why did you pick this Trust? |
Enjoyed placements here as a medical student. Great location in the centre of Bristol |
|
What's the area like? |
Large mix in patient populations present to the hospital. Most people living in central Bristol are able to walk to work (parking is terrible) and the hospital is a few minutes walk from Cabot Circus – good for after work shopping! |
|
What's the best thing about your Trust? |
Excellent educational supervisors who are selectively chosen and very approachable foundation directors. Good pastoral care and careers advice. Active mess, with netball, hockey, football teams and squash ladder. Monthly payday party and annual doctors ball. |
|
And the worst? |
No windows! |
|
What advice would you give someone about to start in your Trust? |
Make sure you locate the mess as it’s a great way to meet other doctors, especially if you have just moved to Bristol |
|
What's the typical patient profile? |
Very variable. Central Bristol has a large population of people with drug and alcohol problems |
|
Describe your job in one word |
Enjoyable |
F2, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
|
What programme are you doing? |
F1 – ITU, Urology, Hepatology |
|
Why did you pick this Trust? |
Based near my house |
|
What's the area like? |
Really pretty bits of town, lots to do and easy to get out to the countryside even if you’re tied to public transport |
|
What's the best thing about your Trust? |
Variety of highly specialised fields to get involved in, lots going on with opportunities for keen people to get involved in high level audits, research and to change procedures/ policies |
|
And the worst? |
High stress in some areas due to workload pressures. The usual ongoing issues – ‘late’ contracts, rotas late so rota-ed on during annual leave/ study leave, last minute requirements to work a long day to cover sickness etc |
|
What advice would you give someone about to start in your Trust? |
Be proactive from the start and you’ll get great opportunities for your CV from this trust. It really does give you what you need to flourish |
|
What's the typical patient profile? |
Huge variety as we’re a tertiary centre |
|
Describe your job in one word |
Stimulating |
F2, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
| What programme are you doing? | Gynae/ ED/ General Surgery |
| Why did you pick this Trust? | For the rotation |
| What's the area like? | WGH is near the beach, and not far from Bristol |
| What's the best thing about your Trust? | Being at Weston it is friendly, small and personal |
| And the worst? | Lots of vacancies in the SHO rotas, no middle grade support except in ED |
| What advice would you give someone about to start in your Trust? | Be aware that as an F2 it can be a lot of responsibility with no registrars around in gynae and general surgery. Note that the gynae job has no obstetrics. With no doctors living in the social life is not as good as it has been as everyone commutes back to Bristol |
| What's the typical patient profile? | Anything from young holiday makers and families to elderly locals |
| Describe your job in one word | Variable! |