Welcome to the Forth Valley Psychiatry training module
We are keen to provide you with a wide and varied experience and hope that you find this placement improves your confidence and knowledge in psychiatry. Whichever specialty you choose in the future, you are likely to benefit from the experience in this module. You will have exposure to a wide range of patients with mental health problems, and learn about bio-psycho-social model in considering a patient’s difficulties and treatment. You will have the opportunity to develop your communication skills as a doctor and increase your awareness of key elements, which influence therapeutic relationship with patients.
Key Contacts
- Dr Nabila Muzaffar- Consultant General Adult Psychiatry-Supervisor
- Dr A Iyer- Specialist Trainee
- Dr J McGinn- Core Trainee
Placement Details/Timetable
You will have an initial meeting with your clinical supervisor for induction and a tour of the unit. They will maintain regular contact throughout. Stay in regular contact with your supervisor for any advice, to discuss cases etc. You will need to meet with them at the end of the attachment in order to discuss your case and complete your assessments. If there are any issues please contact your supervisor.
Your additional points of contact will be Dr Iyer and Dr McGinn who will organise tutorials with you during your placement based on any particular needs/ interests you have.
Weeks 1-3 you will be attached to acute admission wards, 2 and 3 in Mental Health Unit. You will have the opportunity to attend ward rounds, MDT meetings and see patients. Please discuss your learning requirements with your supervisor and the inpatient Consultants so appropriate opportunities can be organised.
You will also have the opportunity to gain clinical experience in MHAATS (Mental Health Assessment and Treatment) team. You will be able to shadow the consultants and join liaison nurses for assessments. You will be able to join Dr Muzaffar or Dr Shaw in one of their clinics.
Week 4 will be based in Falkirk Community Mental Health Service located at Woodlands Resource Centre in Falkirk Community Hospital. You will have the opportunity to attend CMHT meetings and shadow Consultants in clinics. Many of the outpatient consultations are virtual at present with limited face to face contact.
In week 5 you will spend time in old age psychiatry. The old age wards are Ward 4 & Ward 5. In the Mental Health Unit. There will be opportunities to attend ward rounds and MDTs.
Once during your placement you will join the Hospital Addictions Team for a morning as they review patients on the wards. This should give you experience of acute addiction problems in the hospital.
We encourage you to spend a lot of time with patients, particularly in-patients. We believe that such patient contact is the best way to get a feel for the specialty. The more patients you see, discuss, and think about, the more you learn. Speaking with the duty doctor or the other junior doctors is a good way to identify patients to talk to and they are happy to have case discussions with them afterwards. You may also wish to arrange to join the duty doctor one evening.
Assessment
Please refer to the university requirements. Discuss assessment arrangements with your supervisor early. If you need help with identifying patients for your case discussions please discuss with the inpatient consultants and your supervisor.
Tutorials
Edinburgh University is organising a number of tutorials, which are online. Any additional learning needs can be discussed with your Supervisor. Psychiatric CPD programme is running and you will be advised of the sessions as due to COVID the venue is changeable. Dr Iyer and Dr McGinn will contact you during the placement and discuss additional teaching.