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Individual Placement Description
Placement Psychiatry of Old Age
Year F2
Region South-East
Hospital(s) Borders General Hospital, Melrose
Main Duties of Placement

Mental Health of Older Age Team: Medical care of psychiatric inpatients in long-term dementia ward (Melburn), acute dementia ward (Cauldshiels) and acute functional psychiatric ward (Lindean).

Closely working with mental health nurses, community psychiatric nurses, GPs and psychiatrists in treating a range of psychiatric conditions (though day work is mainly dementia).

When on-call you cover acute adult psychiatry (Huntleyburn house) and various other psychiatric facilities across the Borders. Your consultant will arrange visits for you to new referrals and follow-up reviews in patients' homes, nursing homes and day centres.

Typical Work Pattern

On-call shifts are 24 hours long and there is a free on-call house for you in Huntleyburn Terrace. You do one-in-seven. Normal days are 9-5 and you work several weekends over your placement. Wards keep you busy.

Learning Opportunities

Ward rounds most days under various consultants. Supervision session with your supervisor one hour per week. Journal club and educational meeting (aimed at all levels of doctor) once per week. Consultant and GP inpatient reviews on the wards are good opportunities.

Teaching

As above. Also there is mandatory FY2 teaching on a Wednesday lunchtime in the education centre and BGH grand rounds.

Unique Selling Points

Relaxed timetable.

High level of responsibility.

Respected by your colleagues.

Very interesting.

Lots of consultant interaction (first name basis in some cases).

It is important to note that this description is a typical example of your placement and may be subject to change.


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