1. Alex Field Southend Hospital
How to Succeed in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and learn to love midwives….
Alex Field
Southend Hospital

2. Obstetrics and Gynaecology

4. Obstetricians…

5. What is expected of you The training matrix.
No seriously just the training matrix.
If it is on the training matrix, you need to do it.
If it is on the training matrix and you have done it, you will succeed at ARCP

7. How many assessments? Check the training matrix BUT
Aim for 2/week
Midwives, sonographers and nurses can complete if appropriate
You will need to get consultants to do at least some of the OSATs (check the training matrix for details)
Do not leave them all to the last minute
Do those which have been requested of you
Every significant event needs a reflective practice event

9. Problems
Find a senior trainee to talk to: we have all been in your situation.
We can help with e-portfolio, ARCP preparation, exam prep etc
Raise them with your educational supervisor, college tutor or let me know
Raise concerns early whilst there is still time to do something

10. Run-through training Do not take your eye off of your CV
Training is like 1 protracted job interview
Keep your eyes open for opportunities
7 years will pass faster than you think

12. The Exam MRCOG part 1 to progress to ST3
Just get it done
This one of the biggest reasons for non-progression

13. Audit This is compulsory
Do not fail your ARCP because you haven’t done it
Organise and get it done early
Aim to do something you can get presented or published
There is a presentation day (in deanery teaching timetable): an opportunity to present research/audit organised by the academic team at Cambridge

14. Procedures Ask to do things
Senior trainees should be capable of training you, it is our/their job
If you are paired with someone who is not training you, raise it with the college tutor
Staff grades should also teach
Be realistic about what you ask for
Be realistic about who you ask (be nice to the new ST3)
Negotiate: opening and closing, half hysterectomies etc
Negotiate with GP trainees etc to swap sessions

15. Assessments Try to pin people down straight away to do them
Agree at the start of clinic etc that you will do an assessment
Chase them up promptly but politely: they will disappear from your e- portfolio if not completed
If people are regularly not completing assessments they have agreed to do then raise it with college tutor

16. Ultrasound Be realistic about what you need to achieve:
The compulsory basic modules are very basic
Do the required courses
Be a pain
Ask your college tutor/educational supervisor what their plan for your ultrasound training is
‘Organise your own training’ is not acceptable as is being asked to come in in your own time
You can take study leave

17. Ultrasound
Be aware that some of ATSMs need intermediate modules signed off before hand
If doing the intermediate modules then check out the sign-off process first and discuss with your educational supervisor
Ask around your colleagues to find out where is good for ultrasound training: there are some very good units out there
If signed off as competent but you are not allowed to scan then raise this as an issue
Please scan cautiously and within your competencies: even the best sonographers at tertiary units ask for second opinions

18. Band 7 Midwife

19. Midwives vs nurses Midwives are not nurses
They will often refuse to do ECGs, NG tubes etc, give medications they do not understand, do things they do not agree with etc
They are independent practitioners
They will often also be held responsible for your mistakes
Respect the midwives, value their opinions and if you disagree, explain why
If they do not believe you are right, they will escalate it above your head

20. However…
If you feel you are being bullied by midwives, escalate this either through the senior midwifery staff or medical staff
Midwives should be capable of venepuncture, cannulation and suturing
If an individual midwife is incapable of doing these things it ought to be escalated to their band 7 before you are called (except in an emergency)
Midwives hate suturing and this is something you need for ST1. Take advantage of this

21. What to do next Really look at the training matrix
Spend some time looking at the eportfolio especially log book
Book courses, deanery teaching and study leave
Come up with a plan for exams
Start thinking about where you want to go for ST2/3
Pair up with a senior trainee
Start doing assessments now.

22. Future rotations Things to consider
Level of cover: junior registrar/senior registrar cover
Number of trainees
Number of deliveries
Ultrasound scanning
Gynae surgery
Rota
Commuting distance
Depends what kind of person you are and what you need to achieve

24. Who’s who?
Educational supervisor: responsible for ensuring that your individual educational needs are met and for pastoral care. Will do the educational supervisors report which forms the basis of your ARCP.
College tutor: responsible for the education of all the RCOG trainees within the unit, sits on the specialty trainee committee
Training program director: responsible for managing O&G training across the deanery and most importantly, allocations (Jo Nieto)
Assessment training program director: responsible for assessments and most importantly ARCPs (Charlotte Patient)

25. Who’s who?
Teaching training program director: organises the deanery teaching program (Malini Prasad)
ATSM training program director: in charge of ATSM provision (Helen Johnson)
Head of School: responsible for everything O&G (Jane MacDougall)
Postgraduate dean: responsible for training in Health Education East of England
RCOG Trainee Rep for the deanery: me

26. Trainee Representation
Each unit has a registrar and SHO rep. There should be regular meetings locally to discuss issues and take them back to the college tutor
These reps also attend 3x a year local meetings chaired by me to take any issues back to the school board, the specialty training committee and ultimately the RCOG
Each deanery rep also sits on other RCOG committees to ensure trainees views are heard across the college

28. My Job Elected post for 3 years My term ends approximately in May
Need at least 2 years left of training
Nominated by 2 colleagues
voting by fellow trainees
I will not/cannot stand again

29. Responsibilities Attend RCOG Trainees’ Committee Meetings 3x a year
Sit on another RCOG Committee and attend their meetings
Chair local deanery trainees’ committee meetings 3x a year
Sit on either school board or specialty training committee meeting 3x a year
Amend website

30. Good things Meeting people Networking Looks good on CV
Can make a difference
Nice lunch at the college (top rate cheeseboard)
Get all the latest gossip

32. Bad things Sooooo many meetings Bureacracy
More s than you can reply to/people not reading the ones that you send
Significant time commitment

33. Volunteers Please consider volunteering to help
Help with the training committee (we really need a secretary)
Help with the website

34. The Website Previously was very out of date
Now much more up to date BUT: only me able to update it currently
Up to date teaching program, ARCP guide, contact details, job opportunities and courses

36. The Website If you want more content then please feel free to suggest
I want to make it as useful to trainees as possible
makes it very easy to share info quickly