Royal Berkshire Hospital
Trust: Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Address:
Royal Berkshire Hospital
London Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 5AN
Hospital Tel: 0118 322 51111
Anaesthetic Dept Tel: 0118 322 7068
Anaesthetic Dept Fax: 0118 322 7067
The Royal Berkshire Hospital is a busy district general hospital (32,000 surgical cases per year), which provides all services other than cardio-thoracic, neurosurgical, plastic and major neonatal surgery.
All the surgical specialties at Reading carry out major cases within their field in addition to the routine work e.g. major head and neck work in ENT. The General surgeons perform major vascular and gastrointestinal work including oesophagectomies and laparoscopic assisted colectomies. The orthopaedic consultants do major back surgery, tertiary shoulder surgery, and revision arthroplasty as well as general orthopaedics. The urology department regularly perform laparoscopic nephrectomies, prostatectomies and cystectomies using robotic assistance as well as open procedures. There is ample opportunity to increase exposure to paediatric practice. The hospital has 2 spiral CT and 2 MRI scanners with regular opportunities to anaesthetise in these environments.
The anaesthetic equipment is of a very high standard and fully complies with minimal monitoring standards, it is undergoing a staged upgrade. We have a tradition of allowing anaesthetists free choice in the techniques they can use and have equipment to support the use of Total Intravenous Anaesthesia and Low Flow Desflurane techniques. There is a core group of consultants enthusiastic to teach upper limb regional blocks. A dedicated emergency theatre is available 24 hours a day and every effort is made to ensure that all emergency work and non-elective work is completed by 22.00 hrs in keeping with CEPOD recommendations.
The purpose built ICU has 11 beds and cares for 700 patients annually (8% paediatric). The unit is supported by a highly motivated nursing team, and has been involved in multi-centre research trials. Since 1999 it has had a computerised Clinical Information System. Continuous cardiac output monitoring, haemofiltration, percutaneous tracheostomy and intracranial pressure monitoring are all standard procedures. Transoesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography is being developed. It is one of the few ICUs in the UK to run a successful follow-up programme. A 24 hour Outreach service has been developed over the last few years. A separate consultant on call rota covers the unit and trainees do a three-month ICU attachment. There is a senior joint CCT post in Intensive Care that rotates with John Radcliffe.
There is a Pain management unit in purpose built area. There are three consultants and two full time nurses with an interest in pain management. The unit offers a wide range of invasive, drug based and pain management therapies. We have introduced an Advanced Training Module in Pain for senior trainees. All other our trainees have the opportunity to have a dedicated attachment in pain to cover specific topics, gain competencies and to give them an opportunity to see what it involves as a subspecialty.
The obstetric unit has over 6000 deliveries per year with a 28% LSCS rate and 28% epidural rate. We have an established Advanced Training Module in obstetrics for senior trainees. There is consultant cover of the Labour Ward and Elective Caesarean Section List every day which gives support to the trainees covering Labour Ward. The anaesthetic department works closely with the obstetric and midwifery service to plan care for the high-risk mothers.
We are EWTD (Aug 2009) compliant with a 1:8 on-call rota. Each trainee is allocated an Educational Supervisor, signs an Educational Contract and develops a personal development plan. There is weekly viva practice, weekly FRCA based teaching and Post-Fellowship Management/Career Development Study Days four times a year as well as opportunities to deliver teaching/viva practice. A new Simulation Centre opened in November 2009 featuring SimMan 3G, SimNewB and SimBaby. This will be a multidisciplinary facility with access for anaesthetic trainees.
We are lucky that we have been able to develop a team of high calibre clinical anaesthetists with a variety of different special interests as well as styles. Some of the consultants have a high profile either politically, within management or specialist anaesthetic associations. We have a group of keen consultants who are particularly involved in teaching, training, help with examinations and career progression of trainees.
Over the last few years we have introduced consultant appraisal by trainees and are pleased to say that the feedback has been very positive in the main. We have achieved a very impressive success rate at the primary and final examinations. Year on year our trainee satisfaction recorded by PHEEM feedback shows that trainees look upon the Royal Berkshire as a good place to train.
