An innovative programme which sees medical students carry out paid shifts in Ninewells Hospital has proved a great success, with benefits for patients, staff and students.
Lynn Urquhart, who is a consultant in the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) and assessment lead for the University of Dundee Medical School, started the initiative three years ago with 20 final year students signing up to do evening and weekend shifts to help manage winter pressures in the AMU.
The programme was so successful that it was extended beyond its initial three-month period and now runs all year round with more than 100 students undertaking 745 shifts in 2022. The students work as healthcare support workers carrying out tasks such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) to check heart activity, taking blood samples and inserting tubes (cannulas) to deliver fluids and medicines.
Lynn said, “Working in the AMU and the medical school meant I could see the value in developing this project both for NHS Tayside and for the students.
“The benefits are massive to us as the students are highly skilled and can complete any outstanding tasks from the early shift and ensure patient investigations are carried out as quickly as possible. This is a great help to the night shift staff and means that we can make important decisions for patients in the most timely manner.
“Nursing and medical staff morale is helped greatly and students are more likely to choose to return to this area as doctors as they enjoy it so much. It also offers them extra experience and the opportunity to earn money while they study.”
Cassandra Baiano, a Foundation Year 1 doctor, is a graduate of the ScotGEM programme which is taught through a partnership between the Universities of St Andrews and Dundee.
Speaking about her experience, Cassandra said, “The programme was one of the most valuable parts of final year for me in terms of preparing me for the realities of working as a junior doctor.
“I became proficient and confident in practical skills that I now use daily and can build on with more advanced skills. I also learned soft skills and a logistical understanding of the NHS that help me to better navigate working within the multi-disciplinary team. I am a more competent and capable junior doctor for having taken part in this programme and I believe it should be a standard offering for medical students everywhere.”
Arianna Tan is in her fifth year studying for her degree in medicine. She came to Dundee in 2020 as part of a joint degree programme established with the International Medical University in Malaysia.
Arianna said, “Applying for this programme in AMU allowed me to practice and refine basic practical skills on the ward such as blood-taking and cannula insertion, and all whilst being paid to do them. I am thankful for the opportunity to participate in this programme and am hopeful that it will continue for the future medical student cohorts.”
Following the success of the programme, which is the largest of its kind in Scotland and has been commended by NHS Education for Scotland (NES), colleagues from other health boards across the UK have been in touch to find out more about the model.