Medical Examiners from across England and 68 patients at Ashford Hospital help doctors of the future

The past weekend (Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October 2007) has seen medical consultants from across England atAshford Hospital to examine thirty (30) junior doctors in their final exams before they become Physicians.    The exams were held in the Rheumatology & Physiotherapy Departments and the Hospital’s Education Centre served as a base for the twelve (12) examiners.   Education Centre Manager Lynn Moran says: “Hosting the exams is a real honour for the Trust and AshfordHospital.   The exams have been such a success at Ashford over the last four years  that we have been asked to host two sets of exams in February 2008.”

The ‘host’ examiner at Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals is Consultant Rheumatologist Dr Mike Irani.   He is supported by a small team from Rheumatology research, a Specialist Registrar and the Education Centre at Ashford.  Other Trust staff  helpover the weekend including some from nursing, portering, catering and housekeeping.  Hospital volunteers help with ‘meeting & greeting’ participants and generally helping to ensure that the event runs smoothly.     Ten (10) examiners come from the Royal College of Physicians including ‘local’ examiners Dr Carl Long (Consultant Geriatrician) and Dr David Barnes(Consultant Neurologist).   Lynn continues: “Apart from the twelve (12) examiners, sixty-eight (68) patients from our local community with varied medical conditions give up time over the weekend to support the doctors in training for their exams and four (4) actors posing as patients cover the communication and ethics sections of the exam.

Professor Dr David Black, Dean Director for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education for Kent Surrey and Sussex and a Consultant Geriatrician at Queen’s Mary’s Hospital in Kent, comments: “I am pleased with how well the examinations went this weekend.   Careful preparation, happy patients, lots of helpful support staff, well drilled examiners and excellent IT support!   The Royal College of Physicians should be proud of the Trust’s efforts.”

Host examiner Dr Mike Irani comments: “Over the weekend thirty (30) very nervous Senior House Officers (junior doctors) looking for membership of the Royal College of Physicians and a career as a Consultant in Medicine were put at their ease by the professionalism of staff, patients and volunteers at Ashford Hospital.  Despite the changes in Trust services the helpfulness of patients, volunteers and staff remains undiminished.   My Consultant colleagues continue to put forward patients to participate; a big thank you to them and to everyone else who was involved in the weekend.”

Dr Irani continued: “The Trust has strong links with the medical training establishments such as Imperial College of Medicine inLondon and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences including the European Institute of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Surrey in Guildford.   Our role at Ashford and St. Peter’s in providing medical and nursing education remains as important as ever.”