Carmarthen Postgraduate Medical Centre

The Scheme

Hospital posts are based at the town's Glangwili General Hospital, run by Hywel Dda LHB. Good quality ST posts area available in the following areas: Paediatrics, General Medicine/Psychiatry, ENT, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and A & E. All Consultants in these areas are very supportive of the scheme and committed to teaching. There is also excellent support from other junior staff and a full teaching programme. The Trust was established in 1993 and is responsible for providing a full range of hospital and community health care services to the 90,000 population of Carmarthen and the surrounding areas, as well as a range of sub-speciality services for a wider area.

Half Day Release is arranged for all Trainees, both Hospital and Practice based, for the full three years. This encourages an excellent rapport between the Trainees because of this regular contact and there is a definite sense of belonging to an exclusive club, with much peer group support. Visiting Lecturers give talks on a variety of subjects, usually at the request of the Trainees themselves.

Sessions take place on a Tuesday afternoon at the hospital's Postgraduate Centre and all Trainees look forward to this three hour break from routine, with its cream cake tea break and its social chit-chat. Friendly Postgraduate staff will attempt to solve all problems and provide a listening ear when needed.

There are currently nine training practices in the area. These vary from the town centre eight partner surgery to surgeries in more rural areas. The Trainers are all friendly and supportive and are led (astray) by the genial and highly motivated Course Organisers', who arrange trips out on a regular basis. These excursions are becoming notorious and are eagerly awaited by the Trainers and Trainees alike.

The scheme is currently running at full capacity. Trainees are encouraged to sit and have passed the Diploma in Child Health, Diploma in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and nMRCGP. Three day Universal Child Health Programme Courses are run from the Postgraduate Centre and all Trainees participate.

Carmarthenshire GP Speciality Training Programme

Commencing with lunch at 1.30 pm unless otherwise stated. The afternoon timetable will be as follows:

• 01.30 - 2.00 pm Light lunch will be served prior to meetings (sponsored by Pharmaceutical Rep)
• 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm Presentations/Scenarios
• 3.00 pm - 3.15 pm Tea-break
• 3.15 pm Speaker
• 4.45 pm Feedback
• 5.00 pm Session ends

Programme Directors:

• Dr John Rees, Llanfair Surgery, Llandovery.
  Tel: 01550 720648
• Dr Ruth Williams, Furnace House Surgery, Carmarthen
  Tel: 01267 236616