Medicine


Key People:

  • College Tutor:

    Dr Burhan Khan

  • Clinical Director:

    Dr Jonathan Kwan

  • Rota Manager:

    Isabelle Salami

  • Medical Education Officer:

    Dee Jessop

The Department of Adult Medicine at Darent Valley Hospital provides a number of training programmes designed to deliver core training in General Internal Medicine by acquisition of knowledge and skills as assessed by the work place based assessments.
Placements include several subspecialties which include both in- and out-patient commitments and direct involvement in the acute medical take. A variety of teaching approaches are adopted alongside a myriad of learning opportunities available on site.
As well as modalities such as web-based, CDs, ward-based clinical teaching, PACES teaching, interactive presentations, exposure to outpatients, group learning, private study, courses, reflective practice, audit projects, clinical meetings, journal clubs, grand rounds, and regular teaching specific to year and Specialty, access to UpToDate is also available for all trainees as well as regular simulation and practical procedures courses.

Medical Training at DGT


The Department of Adult Medicine at Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust includes several subspecialties, most of which include both in- and out-patient commitments. These specialist services include:
  • Cardiology:
    with a local ‘Heart Centre’ offering re-vascularization and device therapy including re-synchronisation therapy. Primary PCI arrangements are available onsite and at Ashford. This specialty also has major links with St Thomas’s and Kings College Hospital London.
  • Respiratory:
    offers a comprehensive TB service and resources include negative pressure rooms and lung physiology. There is an active interest in interventional pulmonology with pleural ultrasound, bronchoscopy and a now well established ‘Medical Video assisted Thoracoscopy’ as well as having the first Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) service in Kent.
  • Gastroenterology:
    offering conventional endoscopy services in addition to capsule endoscopy, ERCP and MRCP and an interventional stenting service. It also has major links with St Thomas’s Hospital London.
  • Diabetes/Endocrinology:
    with an active diabetes service and an evolving metabolic bone disease service.
  • Haematology:
    which is heavily involved in haemato-oncological research and has major links with the haematology unit at Kings Hospital.
  • Elderly medicine:
    including stroke medicine with an acute thrombolysis service, a movement disorder service including Parkinson’s disease, and Ortho-Geriatric services including medical trauma liaison. A Carotid Vascular Surgeon is on site.
  • Renal Medicine:
    has inpatients as well as an onsite renal dialysis unit and major links to Kings College Hospital.
  • Outpatients:
    Outpatient only specialties include rheumatology, with close links to the ortho-geriatric service offering an integrated ‘Falls and Osteoporosis’ service and neurology with a weekly liaison round reviewing selected inpatients.

Posts and Rotations


The Department of Medicine is committed to the education and development of trainees on the Foundation, General Practice and Speciality Training Programmes.
Foundation, Core and General Practice Trainees rotate through various medical subspecialties, supported by a group of Specially Registrars, in Respiratory Medicine, Gastroenterology, Diabetes, Cardiology, Elderly Medicine and Haematology. The F2, Core and GP Trainees participate in the general medical on-call rota and share the work in GIM. Primary ward cover and further support of the medical on-call is provided by the FY1 trainees.

Most of the acute admissions to Darent Valley will be assessed via the ‘Clinical Decision Unit’ (CDU), with twice daily Consultant led ward rounds and further support from an Associate Specialist and a Trust Registrar is available at all times. Apart from the generic work in ‘general internal medicine’, the trainee will have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the various subspecialties available at the Trust.

Exceptional Reporting Guide Link - https://youtu.be/6Xs3MMWW850

Internal Medical Training

Trainees rotate through each medical specialty during their two-year training scheme at Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust. Trainees are allocated an Educational Supervisor for the twenty-four month programme and Clinical Supervisors for each four-month post.
You can download a sample rotation by clicking the button below:

Higher Specialty Registrar Training

Trainees are attached to the department/ward relating to their training specialty. Each Trainee is allocated an Educational/Clinical Supervisor for the duration of their training programme at the Trust.

Teaching and e-portfolio


e-Portfolio

Those on the General Practice Specialty Training Programme are required to register with the Royal College of General Practice to be assigned an e-Portfolio account.
The package allows trainees and their trainers to maintain a learning log and keep a record of education and development, reflective practice and assessments in order to provide sufficient evidence for the CCT.
Trainees are required to keep their e-Portfolios up to date; this is regularly monitored by the Clinical Education Department and support provided as required. The portfolios are regularly assessed at the Local Faculty Group Meetings with trainees being provided rapid supportive feedback.
For more information on the e-Portfolio go to: www.rcgp.org.uk/training-exams/mrcgp-trainee-eportfolio.aspx

Teaching

Internal Medicine Trainees (IMT) have protected teaching for 1 hour every Tuesday at 1pm which takes place in the Education Centre.

Local Faculty Group


The Local Faculty Group (LFG) consists of the college tutor, medical education department, clinical and educational supervisors and allied healthcare professionals in the department.

LFG meetings take place every 4 months at the end of each rotation. This allows for feedback from both training and non-training grade doctors, and the opportunity to review highlights and areas of improvement/concerns. Trainee teaching attendance and e-portfolio progress are also discussed, to identify any factors contributing to limited educational opportunities and any further support required. 

Following the LFG, feedback is presented to the Local Education Board (LEB) by each department for review. 

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