South Thames Foundation School

Postgraduate Centre

Modern, up to date learning resource centres are available on both hospital sites along with many other training opportunities including newly constructed skills laboratories at both sites.

Library Facilities

There is a library on both sites, providing access to traditional services and resources (textbooks, journals, search skills training, document delivery etc.) and internet-based resources (e-journals, e-books on-line exam support).

IT Facilities

Both libraries have PCs and internet access 24/7.

Other Facilities
(Recreational or otherwise)

Both hospitals are modern and very friendly places to work.  Both hospitals have an on-site nursery and a social club/bar.  Eastbourne D.G.H. has a gym and an (outdoor, but heated) swimming pool on-site, for which a small fee is charged. 

Doctors’ Mess

The Doctors’ Mess on both sites is very popular.  Foundation doctors both at Eastbourne and the Conquest hold dinners, balls and other events.  At Hastings, the hospital Christmas show is legendary, and brings staff and students together.

Local Amenities/ Attractions

The towns are lively, with shopping centres nightclubs, bars, museums, sailing, cycling and other activities. 

Transport Links

The Conquest (Hastings) is around 60 miles south of London with good transport links.  Regular trains run to London, with an average journey of 1-1 ½ hours.

Eastbourne Rail Station is approximately 1.5 miles from the Hospital.  Main line trains from London Victoria run regularly to Eastbourne.  Trains from London Victoria are fast and frequent, taking just 80 minutes.
Brighton is just along the coast from Eastbourne and easily accessible by car, bus or train.

Parking Arrangements

There is on site parking at both hospitals and staff pay 50p per day when displaying a staff permit.

Accolades/
Achievements of the Trust

STFS awarded East Sussex Hospitals a citation for exceptional work in the remediation of Foundation doctors in difficulty 2007/08.

Any Additional Information

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust was established on 1 April 2002 following the merger of Eastbourne Hospitals and Hastings & Rother NHS Trusts.  The Trust aims to provide high quality hospital and clinical services for the people of East Sussex. Our website provides full and current information – www.esht.nhs.uk.

There is a combination of urban and rural development with areas of outstanding natural beauty and of considerable historic interest.  There are excellent recreational and sporting facilities in the area and good rail links to London and Brighton, to Europe via the Channel Tunnel and Eurostar and to international airports.  The Trust is keen to develop its staff and postgraduate medical and nurse training takes place on both the main sites. We have medical students from Brighton & Sussex Medical School, from Kings and elsewhere, and encourage you to develop your teaching skills.

Accommodation

Conquest – Orbit Housing Association have a partnership arrangement by which they manage the staff accommodation on behalf of the East Sussex Hospital NHS Trust. The Scheme Manager is Linda Oliver on extension 8001 and is on site (Block 43 – 70, Oast House Close – ground floor), between 0830 and 1630 hours, Monday to Fridays. Out of hour’s emergencies, contact Switchboard. There is a rental charge per month for a single room but this is reviewed each year on 1st August, so the cost may go up.

Barrier access to the accommodation car park is by swipe card, available from the Scheme Manager at one-off payment of £10 (non-refundable). Coin operated laundry area. Must have own TV licence.

Eastbourne - The original eight residential buildings at Eastbourne were built in 1976 and supplemented by a further nine blocks in 1988, bringing the total number of houses, flats and rooms to 350.  All accommodation is fully furnished and doctors’ quarters are provided with kitchen utensils and cutlery.  There is a rental charge per month for a single room which is reviewed on a regular basis.

Shadowing

At the EDGH and Conquest we ask the FY1s if they would like to come in pre-induction and have the opportunity to shadow. This helps them to settle in and get used to the hospital.

Tasters

At Eastbourne D.G.H we offer 2 separate taster weeks for FY2s. These are held during the year in which the Foundation Year 2s are with us.  We hold tasters in the following; Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, Dermatology, Burns and Plastics Surgery, Haematology, Ophthalmology, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Palliative Care, Urology, Radiology, ENT, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Anaesthetics, Colorectal Surgery and General Practice.

At Conquest FY2s are asked to advise where they would like to spend their taster time and this is arranged with them.

Teaching Programme

There are 36 foundation Year 1 rotations (FY1).  Most are based at either Conquest or Eastbourne D.G.H.  There is one cross-site rotation (Urology, Orthopaedics and General Medicine).  Each rotation comprises 3 x 4-month posts.  FY1 doctors may do night shifts, and are rostered for weekends and long days/evening shifts in the acute specialties.

These posts are all approved by the KSS Deanery and Foundation Schools.  All Foundation Year 1 trainees are attached to a one year programme.  This is directed by Mr Salim Shubber, Clinical Tutor, and Mr Graham Watson, Foundation Programme Lead at Eastbourne, and by Dr Mark Whitehead, Clinical Tutor and Dr Mohammad J H Rahmani, Foundation Programme Lead at Conquest.  The programme includes formal weekly teaching sessions, monthly afternoon workshops, directed and self-directed personal learning, structured appraisal and assessments.

In Foundation Year 1 (FY1) at the Conquest there are 18 posts, in Surgery (4), DME (4), Diabetes (2), Urology (1), Respiratory (2), Gastro (2), Cardiology (1), Orthopaedics (2).
In Foundation Year 2 (FY2) at the Conquest there are 18 posts, General Practice (3), DME (4), Respiratory (1), Cardiology (1), Orthopaedics (2), Emergency Department (3), ENT (1), Paediatrics (2), and Diabetes (1).

In Foundation Year 1 (FY1) at Eastbourne there are 17 posts, in Surgery (4), Diabetes & Endocrinology (2), Rheumatology (1), Respiratory (2), Orthopaedics (4), Gastro (1), DME (3), and Urology (1).  In Foundation Year 2 (FY2), at Eastbourne, there are 24 posts in A & E (6), GP (4), Ophthalmology (1), Paediatrics (2), Public Health (1), Urology (2), Psychiatry (1) General Medicine (2), Palliative Care (1), Orthopaedics (3), and ENT (1).

Simulation

Fully equipped clinical skills rooms have been constructed at both Postgraduate Education Centres to facilitate simulation practice in accordance with the Foundation curriculum.

Social Activities

Both hospitals are modern and very friendly places to work. The towns are lively, with nightclubs, sailing, cycling and other activities. Both hospitals have an on-site nursery and a social club/bar. Eastbourne D.G.H has a gym and an (outdoor, but heated) swimming pool on-site, for which a small fee is charged. Also at Eastbourne we hold social events such as an annual cricket match and bbq and days out for example paintballing. The Doctors’ Mess on both sites is very popular. Foundation doctors both at Eastbourne and Conquest hold dinners, balls and other events. At Hastings, the hospital Christmas show is legendary, and brings staff and students together.

Any Additional Information

There is a library on both sites, providing access to traditional services and resources (textbooks, journals, search skills training, document delivery etc.) and internet-based resources (e-journals, e-books on-line exam support). Both libraries have PCs and internet access 24/7.