Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) has seen a big improvement in the feedback received by learners, leading the region in certain aspects of clinical and medical education according to recent survey results.
Each year the Trust takes part in the General Medical Council’s (GMC) Training Survey, the results of which help the organisation to monitor the quality of medical education. In 2017, doctors in training, health professionals and mentors took part in the year’s national and local training surveys, the results of which have shown big improvements at DBTH.
Most notably, the GMC survey reflects positive results for the Trust’s Acute Internal Medicine, General Internal Medicine and General Surgery, all of which have scored as best in the region. In other areas, Endocrine, Diabetes and Gastroenterology were second best in South Yorkshire with notable improvements in Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Paediatrics. Additionally, Core Medical Training and Geriatric medicine came in for particular praise, not only leading neighbouring organisations but placing joint fourth nationally.
These improvements are also reflected in the evaluations received from pre-registration students, for example nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, who are on placement with DBTH. These students reported an overall satisfaction rate for learners of 98% (taken from Practice Placement Quality Assurance), placing the Trust amongst the best in the region, a significant endorsement for the organisation in its first year as a teaching hospital.
Karen Barnard, Director of People and Organisational Development, said: “The survey results that the Trust has achieved this year are fantastic and show our clear and determined commitment to training and education. Not only are we leading the region in certain services, but in some cases are amongst the top ten in the country.
“I want to thank each and every member of staff for making the Trust not only a fantastic place only to work, but also to learn, welcoming our students and creating a fantastic environment in which to develop as clinicians and medical professionals.”
These recent achievements highlight the success of the Trust’s focus on innovation, improvement, inclusivity, person centred care and leadership. There has also been an increased emphasis on Educational and clinical supervision, enhanced with consultant presence from 9am to 9pm, which has created a supportive environment for learners. Mentors are also around more often, improving relationships between supervisors and learners.
Going forward DBTH intends to use this feedback to ensure learners receive high quality training in a safe and effective clinical environment, aiming to do even better next year.