Post Number:

3253

Post Title:

GPST 2 Geriatric Medicine

Placement:

Princess Royal University Hospital and Orpington Hospital

Clinical Director: Dr/Mr/Miss

Dr Aza Abdulla

Clinical Supervisor: Dr/Mr/Miss

Dr Aza Abdulla

Description of Post

This is a 4 month ST2 post in geriatric medicine and general medicine.  The post holder will be part of the geriatric medicine team but will take part in the medical on-call rota.  The post offers training in the acute management of elderly patients but also of some general medical patients admitted when on-call.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday  

Saturday and Sunday

a.m.

Ward Round

SpR

Ward Round

Consultant

OPC

Orpington Hospital

Ward Round

Consultant

Ward Round

SHO

1-2 pm X-Ray

2-3 pm journal club

1-2 pm ST1-2 Teaching sessiom

2-3 pm MDT

Grand Round

p.m.

Ward Work

Ward Round

GPST Half Day Release Course during term time

Ward Work

Ward Work

European Working Time Directive Banding

The post is funded by the Deanery and the appropriate pay scale is applied.

Special features relating to Rota

The Rota is fixed and set from the onset of the post and annual leave is allocated from the beginning of the post.  Flexibility exists as long as ST doctors can manage internal swaps.

Learning opportunities (other than informally during clinical work)

Develop the skills required in the acute management of older patients with complex medical problems following acute illness 

a.       Decision making regarding appropriateness of admission.

b.       Communication skills with patient and relatives.

c.       Optimising patients care, attention to poly-pharmacy, drug interactions and nutrition. 

d.       Management of acute medical condition that necessitated hospital admission.

e.       Early discharge planning.

f.         Withdrawing treatment when indicated and understanding of legal issues that may arise.

2. Understand the physical, psychological and social changes that occur in older patients.

3. Develop the skills needed for the assessment of frail elderly patients with multiple needs and planning their long term management following discharge.

5. Manage, supervise and monitor the rehabilitation of older patients following acute illness through multi-disciplinary approach integrating physiotherapy, occupational therapy and social services.

6. Understand the principles of management of specific diseases commonly associated with old age e.g. Parkinson’s disease, dementia, stroke, falls and coronary artery disease.

7. Develop Presentation skills.

Reflections of previous post holders

A very good job for experience in acute general medicine and looking after the elderly.  Help you to make decisions.  There is an opportunity to learn a lot but it depends on your own enthusiasm.  One of the things to learn which you don't learn elsewhere is how decisions about placement of the elderly are made.