South Thames Foundation School

Postgraduate Centre

There is an excellent purpose built Postgraduate Education Centre which is the hub for Medical Staff.  The PGEC has its own restaurant which is well used by all medical staff in the Trust and local General Practitioners.   All of the seminar rooms are well furnished and equipped.  The Centre also has a purpose built clinical skills unit with simulation equipment.  The lecture theatre, skills room and seminar rooms all have live links to theatres, endoscopy and radiology. 

Library Facilities

The Health Services library is situated above the PGEC.  It provides a wide range of services and also houses a PC suite. There is 24 hour access to the HSL and its IT.

IT Facilities

The PGEC Centre has 3 PC work stations available for doctors during working hours. The Health Sciences Library also has PCs with 24 hour access. The PGEC plans to install a wireless system for use with laptops.

Doctors’ Mess

There is a well equipped, purpose built doctor’s mess in the middle of the hospital grounds. A squash court is also situated within the mess.

Local Amenities/ Attractions

Frimley is a small town 5 minutes walk away with the usual local amenities. Camberley, Guildford and Windsor are easily accessible with more nightlife and cultural activities.
There is a fast train service to London from near by Farnborough.

Transport Links

The hospital is situated just off junction 4 of the M3 with quick and easy access to London by car or train and is roughly an hour from the south coast. 

Parking Arrangements

There is limited on-site parking with priority given to clinical staff. A small monthly charge is made for parking.

Accolades/
Achievements of the Trust

Frimley Park has an excellent reputation as a dynamic successful Foundation Trust with a high rate of doctors choosing to return to work here.  We are the proud possessor of a double-excellent rating for services to patients and use of resources in the Healthcare Commission’s Annual Healthcheck for the second year running, one of only 12 in the country to receive this two year’s in a row.  The Trust is also one of the few nationally to hold NHSLA level 3 for acute services and maternity.
In the recent PMETB survey Frimley Park gained 24 “green Triangles” with training in Emergency Medicine and ACCS being scored especially well.  Most trainees at exit interview would recommend to colleagues the Frimley Park “experience” at Foundation level.

Any Additional Information

Frimley Park is a 760 bedded NHS Foundation Trust near Camberley in Surrey serving a local population of approximately 400,000.  It is host to a MDHU which means that Armed Forces doctors and other military personnel are integrated into the hospital workforce.

Accommodation

The Trust has a limited amount of accommodation on site for medical staff.

Shadowing

All incoming FY1s are required to shadow before joining Frimley Park as part of the induction process.

Tasters

Tasters are available to FY1s, on a first come first served basis, for up to 5 days, although this study leave will be deducted from the F2 allowance.  FY2s may apply for 5 day tasters up to twice in their placement.

Teaching Programme

The Trust currently has 36 FY1s and 34 FY2s.   All will rotate through 3 specialties for a period of 4 months each. 

All Foundation trainees have individual appointments with the FY1 and FY2 Programme Directors in each part of the rotation and also meet with the trust Careers Advisor (who is also the Director of Medical Education).  Trainee input to the Foundation Faculty meetings is encouraged and 2 FY1s and 2 FY2s attend each meeting.

FY1 have weekly lunch time topic teaching in the PGEC and a whole day curriculum based teaching every other month. All trainees undertake an ALERT course and ILS during their F1 year.

FY2 have a monthly curriculum based study day and all undertake an ALS course during their F2 year.

All Foundation trainees are encouraged to begin audit presentations and are well supported in this work by the Clinical Audit department.

Simulation

All FY1s will be offered 2 half days of simulation training at a neighbouring Trust, The Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford.

Social Activities

There is an active Mess Committee with regular parties and a Hospital ball.

Any Additional Information

 The outgoing Foundation Doctors prepared a brochure the new arrival in August this year Here are some of the entries:
"Frimley Park is a wonderful hospital to work at, with a very friendly atmosphere and an excellent Post Graduate Education Centre.  You will be given lots of help throughout the year with regards to completing assessments and guiding you through assembling a portfolio, with plenty of careers advice and help with ST applications.  The teaching programme is really excellent and very targeted towards the aims of the Foundation Programme (particularly management of acute medical emergencies)."
“And make sure you keep on top of your portfolio – not only will this make job applications and interviews a whole lot less stressful, but you also want to avoid a panic rush at the end of the year gathering evidence to prove your foundation competencies.”
“And use your study leave wisely – you can take up to 10 days for doing ‘taster weeks’ in specialties you may be considering a career in but have not done a job in during the foundation years.  Think about this early on and start organising it – there is no point leaving it to January when you are amidst job applications!”
“Finally, enjoy the year!  Being a relatively small hospital, it’s easy to get to know most of the other doctors.   Have fun, both inside the hospital and out – remember, there is more to life than just medicine!"