All trainees are required to work on both sites, and there are ample opportunities for trainees to cover a large part of the curriculum within the Trust and acquire surgical skills. Opportunities are available for all level of trainees. The concentration of trauma surgery on the North Tees site means that there is a huge workload giving the trainees ample experience in all forms of trauma except pelvic reconstruction and complex llizarov limb reconstruction. In elective surgery, the Trust is a leading provider of lower limb joint replacement, including hip re-surfacing. The Spinal Team carry out all types of spinal surgery from cervical down to lumbar including anterior approaches where necessary. Lumbar and cervical disc replacements are frequently performed. In the Upper Limb Department a large percentage of the workload is carried out arthroscopically. Shoulder and elbow replacements are carried out frequently within the Upper Limb Unit. Hand and wrist surgery including arthroscopic is performed regularly.
Trauma
All Consultant contribute to Trauma
- Concentrated on the North Tees site – 14 trauma lists per week
- Regular weekly workshops on a Friday pm
- Department involved in National Fracture Neck of Femur Audit and Audit of Proximal Humeral Fractures
- Recognised AO Training Site
- Dedicated Trauma weeks for Consultants
Lower Limb
Consultants: Mr C Tulloch, Mr N Nargol, Mr N Cooke, Mr Tang, Mr Anand, Mr S Maheswaren
- Arthroplasty & foot and ankle
- Concentrated in dedicated unit on Hartlepool site
- Active research on metal on metal prosthesis
Spinal Surgery
Consultants: Mr T Friesem, Mr M Krishna, Mr Bhatia
- Concentrated on North Tees site
- On going research into disk replacement
Upper Limb Surgery
Consultants: Mr N Bayliss, Mr A Middleton, Mr P Baguley, Mr Shah (Locum)
- Concentrated on the North Tees site
- Dedicated 23 hour stay in Leven Unit for arthroscopy and upper limb surgery
Day Case
- Carried out on both sites
Teaching
- Regular Friday pm general orthopaedic teaching and journal club
- Workshops demonstrating techniques for internal fixation of fractures and for joint replacement procedures
- Separate tutorials in knee and spinal surgery
- Weekly trauma review meetings
- Monthly clinical governance meetings which regularly cover morbidity and mortality and any untoward incidents
- Arthroscopic sessions to include: shoulder, elbow, and knee
- Advanced Trauma Life Support Courses (ATLS)
Trainees are also offered
- Regular College Tutor ‘Surgeries’ enabling trainees to make individual appointments to discuss any issues
- Excellent mentoring scheme and pastoral support for trainees
- All trainees offered an end of post meeting with College Tutor / Postgraduate Specialty Training Manager to reflect on experience in post
The Trust has a new purpose built Laparoscopic Skills Training Suite based in the Teaching Centre, which has led the Trust to achieving accreditation from the Royal College of Surgeons, London, to be a Regional Training Centre, part of the national network of accredited Centres across the Country piloting and delivering RCS Courses. The new Laparoscopic facility is used by all surgical specialties for practical training sessions, enabling trainers to teach and asses trainees ability to use safe surgical techniques leading to enhanced technical and operative skills, leading to enhanced patient safety. The suite is also available for trainees to book practise sessions. A range of knot tying and suturing equipment is also available to trainees.
Arthroscopy Course
The Department also offers an Arthroscopic Course in Shoulder Surgery, led by Mr Bayliss, Orthopaedic Surgeon, and feedback from trainees include:
“ Excellent course, before I attended the course I did not expect that I will be gaining so much knowledge and hands on experience”
“Trainee to Trainer ratio – good, one to one is always best, excellent supervision”