Medical Education
The Medical Education Department is committed to the on-going training, development and education of the Trust’s medical and clinical staff in line with the Trust objective to secure and develop a workforce to meet the needs of our patients and ensure our medical and dental clinical staff, have the ability, skills, knowledge and expertise to provide high quality, safe and effective services.
Induction
All new medical and dental staff MUST attend a Medical Induction programme. The induction programme focuses on the mandatory training required to work within the Trust and includes both clinical and non-clinical based training to ensure compliance before you begin your career with us. Following induction, there will be a tailored departmental induction which will introduce you to your team, ward/department and provide information relevant to the speciality you are working in.
For more information regarding Medical Education and for your complete Junior Doctor Induction pack, visit the Medical Education Website.
Foundation Programme
The Foundation Programme is a two-year training programme that forms the bridge between medical school and specialty/general practice training. The Trust has 29 year one trainees and 29 year two trainees who are allocated via Essex, Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Foundation School (EBHFS). More information is available from Kiran Maqbool.
General Practice Specialty Training Programme
Our General Practice Specialty Training Programme is spread across a three year period. Eighteen months is spent in General Practice and the remaining time is either at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, Bedford Hospital or in the community. The GP Speciality Training Directors currently provide a comprehensive training programme for 75 GP trainees across 23 rotations. Information is available from Carol Hylton.
Specialty Training
The L&D currently provides specialty training programmes in the following areas:- Acute Care, Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics, Intensive Care, Medicine and medical specialties, Radiology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Paediatrics, General Surgery and surgical specialties for approximately 200 trainees.
Dental Training
There are currently 14 trainees undertaking dental training three of which are vocational training posts. Trainees have placements at Luton & Dunstable, Bedford, East & North Herts & Milton Keynes Hospitals.
We also run various CPD HEE EoE approved courses at our Bedford Hospital site. More information regarding the courses can be found on HEE’s website or via Intrepid Course Manager.
Undergraduate Training
The L&D welcomes medical students from UCL Medical School throughout the year and by arrangement with the medical schools provides a programme of clinical placements and education to support their education. Information is available from Zaheer Afsar.
Education meetings
A programme of weekly Grand Round meetings take place at 12.30 on Tuesdays from September to July. Details of this programme can be obtained from Ruby Salam.
Study Leave
Staff within Medical Education administer the study leave application and approval process for all medical and dental staff on behalf of the Director of Medical Education/Clinical Tutor.
Career and Counselling Advice
All junior medical and dental staff doctor have a designated Educational Supervisor who meets with the junior to discuss personal development plans, study leave requirements, to review progress made, to discuss any concerns, to offer support and guidance, and in addition, can offer general career and counselling advice.
Facilities
Within COMET there is a large Lecture Hall with up-to-date audio-visual facilities, plus seven smaller well-equipped seminar rooms, a Multi-skills Laboratory, Simulation rooms and an IT suite. The Training & Development department can be found on the first floor. To book training facilities please email us at COMET bookings.
Library
The COMET Library can be found on the first floor and the office is staffed during normal office hours. Visitors must identify themselves to the librarian as the library is not an open-access area of the hospital.
How to Find Us
The main entrance to the COMET Centre is located on the ground floor of the old block of the Hospital with the Library and Training & Development on first floor. Offices are open from Monday to Friday, 08.30 – 17.00.
General Telephone Enquiries
Library – 01582 497201
Medical Education – 01582 497006
Training and Development – 01582 492505