Hospital training centre takes shape

The new centre will enable junior doctors and students to access in-depth “eyewitness” training by watching live footage of operations taking place in one of the hospital’s operating theatres, which is used for keyhole surgery.

Footage will be beamed live to the lecture theatre and interlinked training rooms, meaning that an increased number of trainees will be able to observe these surgical techniques at work.

Videoconferencing facilities within the centre will mean that hospital staff will also be able to watch other live training events taking place in the new education centre from computers anywhere on the trust’s hospital sites across Doncaster and Bassetlaw.

Dr Joanne Sayer, director of postgraduate medical education at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The new centre marks an exciting opportunity for the trust to improve support for education and training of all staff groups, including doctors.

“The enhanced training will improve multi-professional team working and be of great benefit to patient safety and comfort.”

A spokesman for the trust said that the focal point of the new centre is a 140-seat lecture theatre with “state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment”.

They added: “The four training rooms can be interlinked to the lecture theatre, acting as an overspill to view presentations.

“Having a highly trained workforce boosts the quality of care that patients receive and all these facilities are designed specifically for promoting the professional development of staff at the trust.

“As with all new builds at the trust, energy efficiency is at the forefront of the centre’s design.

“Wall and roof insulation is to the highest specification, with low-energy LED and smart lighting throughout.

“The building work and equipment is being funded from the trust’s capital programme, which can only be used only for investment in hospital buildings and equipment.”