Salisbury Hospital

A Scheme Organiser's view

As a GP working near Salisbury and linking up with the SHOs on the VTS Scheme, the following points stand out:

1. The good working relationships between GPs and Consultants.
2. The welcoming and well staffed Post-graduate Centre, under the direction of Ms Daphne Rudd.
3. The quality of the regular meetings available at the hospital, including an active Skin Forum, and weekly Friday lunch-time GP or Consultant Grand Round meetings.
4. The salisbury Medical Society hosts a range of social activities, as well as medical ones. There have been joint dinners with the local lawyers, and talks by visiting Professors, and a retired Prime Minister.
5. The Junior Doctor counts in the spirit of Salisbury. In evidence of this the degree of choice that is encouraged. SHOs on the VTS Scheme choose their Hospital jobs from a range of possibilities, under the guidance of Dr Hugh Parry, the Clinical Tutor. They also choose their GP Practice for their Registrar year.

The day release course

The Day Release Course really is a day release. A whole day is spent together with fellow registrars in Winchester, the ancient capital of England. This fosters an opportunity for team learning. Points to note are:

1. Time out: The course goes to France for a week in Normandy. There is also another residential session in Swanage.
2. Days out: a great favourite is a day with the army on Salisbury Plain.
3. Good MRCGP record. One of the course organisers is an MRCGP Examiner. Informal buddy groups seem to evolve naturally, with the exam as a shared goal.
4. Lunch in Winchester!

Dr Alex Armstrong
(Scheme organiser for Salisbury SHOs)

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