Public Servant Lifestyle

The North Glamorgan NHS Trust, in the South Wales valleys, has introduced a new e-learning package for Doctors working at the Trust. The package is designed to provide essential induction training for new doctors - whether they are juniors working on clinical rotation, or locums.

The Trust run a bi-annual face-to-face induction programme but, following a visit by the Royal College of Physicians, identified the need to provide training to locum and short-term staff, covering high-risk and statutory aspects of the induction programme. "The very nature of locum doctors means that their time with the Trust is often very short. This makes it difficult and often impractical to take them away from their clinical duties and schedule face-to-face training", said Helen Thomas, the Trust's Training Manager.

This problem has been overcome by the introduction of an e-learning package. The package combines online video and e-learning and covers the topics of bereavement procedures; quality and standards in prescription writing; infection control; complaints and litigation; confidentiality; risk assessment and health and safety.

Significant Step

"This is a significant step forward in delivering safe, high quality services to our patients", added Helen. "The online delivery of induction training enables locums to familiarise themselves with the facilities and procedures within the Trust very quickly. The package is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can be accessed in a way that fits around the duties and work load of our doctors, providing a cost effective, consistent and flexible solution with the added advantage of being repeatable".

The e-learning package has been developed for the Trust by Learning Industries Limited, a Cardiff University spinout company. The Trust is now hoping to exploit the flexibility of the system to create other e-learning packages for their staff.

Helen Thomas continued: "We have been developing our e-learning provision over the past year or so, working with ACOM Business Services to develop the use of Learndirect materials for training on core skills. We see e-learning as an increasingly important aspect of our overall training programme and expect to expand the range of specialist modules in the future".

The delivery of e-learning is consistent with The Welsh Assembly Government's Informing Healthcare strategy which will support all NHS Wales staff to achieve IT proficiency and will introduce new ways of working using information and communication technologies. The North Glamorgan project and the Trust's e-learning programme may form the basis for other similar projects throughout Wales.

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