Clinical Attachments at the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
Update (March 2022): Unfortunately we are not accepting any clinical attachment applications at the moment. This will be reviewed when Covid restrictions have been removed from the NHS.
Overseas qualified doctors who wish to work in the NHS are strongly advised to undertake a clinical attachment to observe practice within the UK. The GMC has produced Guidance on Clinical Attachments for doctors, which sets out who can participate in attachments and the scope of the role.
The Scheme offered by The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust aims to help and support overseas doctors to integrate into the NHS through the provision of a structured 8 week clinical attachment programme.
Due to the size of the Trust we are not able to offer attachments in all specialities. A typical programme will have 4 weeks in a surgical speciality and 4 weeks in a medical specialty. However, please include your preference of specialities in your application.
Overseas qualified doctors who wish to work in the NHS are strongly advised to undertake a clinical attachment to observe practice within the UK. The GMC has produced Guidance on Clinical Attachments for doctors, which sets out who can participate in attachments and the scope of the role.
The Scheme offered by The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust aims to help and support overseas doctors to integrate into the NHS through the provision of a structured 8 week clinical attachment programme.
Due to the size of the Trust we are not able to offer attachments in all specialities. A typical programme will have 4 weeks in a surgical speciality and 4 weeks in a medical specialty. However, please include your preference of specialities in your application.
To be eligible to apply, applicants must meet the following minimum criteria:
Once accepted onto the programme, applicants are cleared to attend the programme as an observer. After an initial induction week, which will take place within the Trust’s Medical Education Department, the majority of time will be spent on the wards, attached to a medical team, observing UK clinical practice.
By the end of the attachment, it is anticipated that the applicant will have acquired the following clinical skills:
The acquisition of interpersonal skills is an integral part of the attachment. By the end of the attachment applicants should have learned the following:
Other areas which will be covered as part of the attachment include:
Each doctor will be placed with a consultant within the specialty who is known as a Clinical Supervisor, who is responsible for supervising them during the observership.
The programme is administered by the Medical Education Manager, Debbie Harrison, (debbie.harrison10@nhs.net) who is the first point of contact for any queries. Dr Jon Clark, Director PGME, is the clinical lead for the programme and Mrs Karen Shaw, Clinical Skills Facilitator co-ordinates the structured programme. Find out more about our staff.
- Must have qualified overseas
- Must be a qualified doctor
- Must have passed PLAB Part I
- Must be preparing for/have passed PLAB Part 2
- Must be competent in English (IELTS score of 7.5 or above)
Once accepted onto the programme, applicants are cleared to attend the programme as an observer. After an initial induction week, which will take place within the Trust’s Medical Education Department, the majority of time will be spent on the wards, attached to a medical team, observing UK clinical practice.
By the end of the attachment, it is anticipated that the applicant will have acquired the following clinical skills:
- History taking skills and examination
- Presentation of cases
- Good prescribing practice
- Infection control
- Phlebotomy and interpretation of blood results
- Interpretation of ECGs
- Interpretation of X-rays
- Investigations
- Differential diagnosis
- Treatment decisions
- Doctor/patient partnership
- Consent
The acquisition of interpersonal skills is an integral part of the attachment. By the end of the attachment applicants should have learned the following:
- How to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
- How to break bad news and deal with “challenging” patients
- How to work in a multicultural environment
- How to manage patient expectations
- Professionalism in the NHS
Other areas which will be covered as part of the attachment include:
- How the NHS works
- Library skills
- Clinical Audit
- Clinical Governance
- Basic Life Support
- Ethical issues
- Career advice
Each doctor will be placed with a consultant within the specialty who is known as a Clinical Supervisor, who is responsible for supervising them during the observership.
The programme is administered by the Medical Education Manager, Debbie Harrison, (debbie.harrison10@nhs.net) who is the first point of contact for any queries. Dr Jon Clark, Director PGME, is the clinical lead for the programme and Mrs Karen Shaw, Clinical Skills Facilitator co-ordinates the structured programme. Find out more about our staff.
The programme will run for the following dates (TBC):
The cost of the course is £400. On site single accommodation is available at an extra charge.
To apply for an attachment please email the Medical Education Manager (debbie.harrison10@nhs.net) including the following information:
- Spring Programme – TBC
- Autumn Programme – TBC
The cost of the course is £400. On site single accommodation is available at an extra charge.
To apply for an attachment please email the Medical Education Manager (debbie.harrison10@nhs.net) including the following information:
- Your first 3 choices of specialty (ranked for preference)
- an up to date copy of your CV
- a copy of your degree certificate.
