More medical students to train in BOP hospitals
More medical students are set to train in Whakatāne and Tauranga hospitals next year as part of a programme to attract and retain health professionals in rural areas .
Currently the BOP Clinical School based at both hospitals manages placements for 4th year and 6th year students . From January 2017 this will be expanded to include a group of 5th year medical students in a new regional / rural programme .
The new programme will see 18 University of Auckland fifth year medical students spend 31 weeks in the Bay of Plenty working alongside doctors in Tauranga and Whakatāne hospitals as well as in the community . This will include time in the Rural Health Interprofessional Programme based at Whakatāne Hospital and with GPs in the area .
Professor Peter Gilling says “ What sets this programme apart from others in big cities is that by working alongside clinicians in Tauranga and Whakatāne hospitals the med students are exposed to a broader range of patients and conditions .”
As part of the placement , the medical students will spend time with GPs in Whakatāne , as well as a day with the nurseled Eastern Bay of Plenty Hospice . They also have the option of visiting one of the Eastern Bay ’ s large industrial employers , spending time with the on-site occupational nurse .
Professor Peter Gilling says “ Potentially they can follow the patient ’ s journey from the GP to the hospital and back . It ’ s a valuable learning opportunity that ’ s not offered in the big cities . The experience also provides exposure to working in rural communities which has resulted in an increase of the number of students applying for positions in the Bay of Plenty .”
Med students secure jobs
The Bay of Plenty DHB ’ s Clinical School is fast becoming a sought after posting for medical students .
Since 2012 the DHB has been accommodating mainly University of Auckland medical students . Initially ten 6th year medical students were based here for the academic year . This year fifteen 6th year medical students have been training at Tauranga Hospital and seven of those have been offered Junior Doctor positions .
Tanushk Martyn is one of those taking up a Junior Doctor position .
He ’ s a self-confessed Aucklander through and through . Born and raised in the New Zealand ’ s largest city , he ’ d never lived anywhere else until this year .
“ Tauranga ’ s got a good reputation as a teaching hospital . I ’ ve compared notes with my friends who are training in other hospitals in the North Island . They haven ’ t had anywhere near the level of exposure to medicine and support as I ’ ve had here .”
“ The hospital is big enough to provide a variety of teaching opportunities , but small enough to make me as a med student feel part of the team .”
The Clinical School is expected to offer 20 placements for 6th year medical students in 2018 .
Medical students Tanushk Martyn and Megan Tozer who have been offered Junior Doctor positions at Tauranga Hospital .
Cuts on our bodies ... are little doors for
GERMS
The Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance ( EBPHA ) recently held a competition in local pre-schools and kohanga reo encouraging staff to promote healthy skin , hearts and bodies to children and their families .
Sandra Ball who ’ s the Rheumatic fever Clincial Lead , EBPHA says , “ The competition provided an opportunity for staff to talk more with children about things they can do to stop the spread of germs such as hand washing and cleaning and covering cuts . As well as raising awareness about getting sore throats checked to help prevent rheumatic fever .
“ We were amazed with the creative ideas the children came up with from papiermâché hearts , to songs about germs .”
Whakatāne ’ s Little Sprouts
Montessori took out the top prize with its child- sized wearable cut outs of plasters , happy and sad hearts and of course nasty germs .
The children really related to the idea of cuts on their bodies being little doors for germs to get in . And they decided that their bodies either make a scab or they can cover the sore with a plaster to stop the germs .
For further information about skin infections visit http :// www . ttophs . govt . nz / healthyskin _ public
Children role playing for healthy skin , hearts and bodies at Little Sprouts .