1. Hub and Spoke Experiences
Liz Green
Hub and Spoke Experiences

2. Year 1:. Hub – Community. Spokes – Respiratory Ward, Endoscopy,
Year 1: Hub – Community Spokes – Respiratory Ward, Endoscopy, Active Recovery
Positives
Built on pre-course experience
Able to see patient continuity
Endoscopy new placement, only student, lots of input
Negatives
Mentor changed on hub
Found first ward experience challenging, short time in which to adapt to ward from community and previous experiences
3 weeks too long on some spokes, limited learning opportunities

3. Year 2 – Hub – surgical ward Spokes – A&E, theatres, vascular ward
Positives
Experiences helped me consider career options
Helped me look for routine and novelty in my practice and learning
Very good mentors in some spokes, involved me in everything and pushed me to do things, learnt a lot
Negatives
More than one mentor on hub, different expectations and ways of doing things – bit confusing
Didn’t have allocated mentor in one spoke, felt very lost

4. Suggestions
Further guidance when learning is purely observational would be helpful, eg in theatres. Talk through what is going on, anything I can help with etc.
Always need a named mentor on a spoke placement

5. Key Issue
A mentor can make or break a placement and have a significant impact on a student’s learning and experience.