Welcome to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Departmental Layout
The Obstetrics and Gynaecology department is housed within the Women and Children’s Unit at Forth Valley Royal Hospital. Most inpatient work is in ward 6 (gynae), ward 7 (labour ward), ward 8 (antenatal/postnatal). Theatre work takes place in theatre 9 (obstetrics), theatre 11 (CEPOD) and theatre 6 (gynae).
Key Contacts
- Dr Aileen Cope – Lead Clinician
- Rachel Angus-Felton – Admin/IT
- Mairi Whitfield – Rota Admin
Sickness Reporting
On the first day of sick leave, call the Unit page-holder on bleep 1111 (24 hours each day and at weekends) to inform her of your absence and its likely duration. If possible, also speak directly to the consultant on-call.
Rota
The FY2 & GPST rota is covered by FY2s, GPSTs, ST1s and ST2s. Time is spent between:
- Labour ward shifts: 08:30-21:00
- Ward 8 & Maternity Triage: 08:30 – 16:30
- Gynaecology: 08:30 – 16:30
- Nights: 20:30-09:00
- Other: Clinics, Theatre sessions, Elective C-Sections [times vary]
Apart from nights and weekends, long shifts are individual and dispersed between Ward 8/Triage and “other” shifts. Clinics include antenatal, general gyn, post-menopausal bleeding, oncology etc. You are assigned to Ward 6 (Gynaecology) for one week at a time, alongside a consultant and registrar.
For your nights, labour ward and gynaecology shifts you are buddied up with a registrar who you can ask for advice at any point.
The registrar rota mirrors the FY2 & GPST rota but with additional responsibility in keeping with training grade. ST2s often work across FY2 & GPST and registrar rotas in process of ‘stepping up’.
Typical Staffing
Typical staffing on a week day usually consists of:
- 3 SHOs (one each for labour ward, gynaecology and ward 8/triage)
- 2 registrars (one for labour ward and the other for gynaecology)
- Additional SHOs and Registrars assigned to clinics, elective CSection list, theatre etc.
Day to Day Ward/Area Activity
Ward 6 – Gynaecology
- Ward round generated jobs to be completed.
- A formal consultant- or reg-lead triage begins at 1330.
- Emergency GP, A&E or self-referrals to ward 6 will be seen by an SHO in one of the treatment rooms (Gynae Triage).
- Gynae triage is attended by women pre-booking.
Ward 7 – Labour Ward
- Ward round generated jobs to be completed.
- Attend any emergency or elective Caesarean sections in either theatre 9 or 10 (see below for role of SHO and when/where briefs take place).
Ward 8 – (Antenatal/Postnatal) & Maternity Triage
- Ward round generated jobs to be completed.
- Gyn team sees antenatal non-labouring patients.
- Labour ward team sees inductions, any labouring patients and postnatal patients.
- Induction medication can be prescribed on Hepma using “IOL” protocol shortcut.
- Any medical review/task is the responsibility of the SHO covering ward 8 and maternity triage.
- Maternity triage is attended by women who have booked.
- Women presenting with low lying placentas should be seen and speculumed by a registrar.
Theatres
- Theatre 9 is the main obstetric theatre, and theatre 10 is the second obstetric theatre.
- Anaesthetic briefs for elective LUSCS happen on labour ward following handover and consenting of patients in brief room opposite labour ward’s main desk. The main role of the SHO is to arrive prior to the procedure and following the anaesthetic to insert the catheter.
- In these theatres the SHO assists the registrar (or consultant) in procedures.
- Theatre 6 is for both major and minor gynaecological procedures.
- Often you assist the consultant unless a registrar is present. It is predominantly a learning opportunity.
- Theatre 11 (CEPOD) opens for emergency obstetric and gynaecological procedures including surgical evacs and ectopics.
Education
PROMPT: The PRactical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training (PROMPT) course takes place once every 1-2 months at FVRH. It is worth considering asking your rota co-ordinator, and Anne Begg (charge midwife) in advance if you’d like to attend.
Regular teaching sessions also take place:
- Labour ward forum – Wednesdays at 12pm
- Gynae education – Tuesdays at 12pm
- Perninatal meeting – every 2 months, dates advertised
Useful Info
Handover
- The handover needs to be updated and ready for both the morning and evening handovers (0830 and 2030). The handover can be found in the V: drive. CLOSE THE HANDOVER WORD DOCUMENT AFTER UPDATING AND SAVING – if not a read only copy can only be opened subsequently.
- The ward 8/triage and ward 6 SHO updates their sections of the handover before leaving at 1630 prior to handing over verbally to the labour ward (long day) SHO.
- Planned inductions and elective sections must be added to the handover.
- Included information for all patients: CHI, gestation, parity, BMI, admission reason, background (all can be found on Badger).