Academic Year
There are four attachments in year 4, Medicine/Dermatology; Surgery/Ophthalmology; Child Health/Ear, Nose and Throat; Obstetrics and Gynaecology/sexual health. Each attachment is of 9 weeks duration and there is a five week elective (elective 4) at the end of the year.
Written and clinical assessments are held in the last 2-3 days of each attachment. The elective period can be used, where required, for remediation prior to supplementary assessment.
The Attachments
Medicine and Dermatology
Students spend two weeks in three of the Medicine Units and three weeks in the fourth Unit. Students are timetabled to attend each of the Medicine clinics, but are encouraged to attend more than this minimal requirement. Dermatology clinics are timetabled throughout the attachment. Each student has one Teaching Ward Round each week and is required to participate in a number of working ward rounds with the Medical Registrars. Students should spend substantial time in the wards, to further develop their clinical skills and learn all aspects of patient care. Opportunities to perform procedures relate primarily to the time spent in the wards. All students are expected to attend the morning Medicine Unit meeting, between 8.00 - 9.00am each morning, apart from Wednesday. Students are welcome to ask questions and to join in the discussion. At approximately two-week intervals, there is a discussion group with the Chair of the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee, immediately following the Unit meeting.
Surgery and Ophthalmology
Students spend two weeks in each of three Surgical Units and three weeks in the fourth Unit. Students are timetabled to attend one Unit clinic and one operating theatre session during this period, but are encouraged to attend more than this minimal requirement. Each unit also has a weekly Teaching Ward Round. Ophthalmology clinics are timetabled throughout the attachment and each student has one operating theatre session in Ophthalmology. Students should spend substantial time in the wards, to further develop their clinical skills and learn all aspects of patient care. Opportunities to perform procedures relate primarily to the time spent in the wards. Wherever possible, students should attend the operating theatre with the patients they have admitted.
All students are expected to attend the Tuesday morning Surgical Unit meetings and two groups also attend the Friday morning meeting each week. Students are welcome to ask questions and to join in the discussion.
Child Health and ENT
Students spend two weeks in each of three Paediatric Units and three weeks in the fourth Unit. Students are timetabled to attend each of the Paediatric clinics but are welcome to attend more than this minimal requirement. ENT clinics and ward rounds are timetabled throughout the attachment and each student has two operating theatre sessions in ENT. Students should spend substantial time in the wards, to further develop their clinical skills and learn all aspects of patient care. Opportunities to perform procedures relate primarily to the time spent in the wards. All students are expected to attend the Paediatric Unit meetings every morning (between 7.45 and 8.15am); students are welcome to ask questions and to join in the discussion. After the morning meeting, students should go to the wards with their Consultant or Registrar, unless you are timetabled for other activities. There are three community visits during the attachment, which provide students with some insight into aspects of child health beyond the teaching hospital environment.
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Students are involved with both of the O&G Units, and are timetabled to attend clinics, teaching ward rounds and Gynaecology operations throughout the attachment. Students will have opportunities to be involved in antenatal care both within PMGH and in the Urban clinics. Students should spend substantial time in the wards and clinics, to further develop their clinical skills and learn all aspects of patient care. Opportunities to perform procedures relate primarily to the time spent in the wards. All students are scheduled to attend two Unit meetings (Monday and Tuesday mornings) each week; students are welcome to ask questions and to join in the discussion of patients. Audit meetings are held on some Fridays - the division will inform students when these are occurring and when they are expected to attend.
General Comments
In year 4, a major component of student learning will take place in the clinical setting and students are encouraged to spend as much time as possible in the wards, clinics and operating theatres. There are substantial certification requirements for year 4 attachments and it is the responsibility of the student to obtain the required verification. Students are referred to the instructions on the first page of your certification booklet. If illness, personal problems or family difficulties prevent attendance, students must submit appropriate documentation. Medical certificates must be signed by a senior registrar, consultant or community-based, registered medical practitioner.
Failure to complete the specified certification activities, late submission of certification booklets, and/or unsatisfactory attendance will result in a requirement for repeating some components of the attachment and/or attract time penalties. If time penalties exceed the five weeks of the elective, you may be required to repeat the year, or your progress to year 5 may be substantially delayed.
Directed own learning tasks may be given for borderline performance; if not completed at a satisfactory level within the academic year or by the contracted date, these may revert to additional assessment requirements, at the discretion of the year 4 Committee.