We are delighted our first set of doctors have graduated from our Emergency Medicine Academy, a project set up by consultants in our Emergency Department (ED) to train and educate our staff grade, associate specialist and specialty grade (SAS) doctors.

The academy was set up in 2018 to increase the number of middle grade doctors in the department, improve the delivery of care to our emergency patients, and reduce our reliance on locums.

As part of the academy, our non-trainee doctors from ED were given the opportunity to complete rotations in key specialties such as paediatric emergency medicine, ITU, and anaesthetics to improve their skills in these areas.

Darryl Wood, an emergency medicine consultant and the academy’s director, said: “This is a dynamic programme that has been successful in helping us promote doctors from a junior level to middle grade level.

“Middle grade doctors are the key to a functional emergency department; they hold the fort during shifts, so increasing the number of doctors at this level will have a huge impact on our service.

“Four of our doctors graduated from the academy last month and two of those are undertaking their Certificate of Eligibility of Specialist Registration (CESR) with us so they can get fully specialised and become consultants.

“Our middle grade doctors are also supporting and supervising junior doctors and trainees to deliver better care, so the academy is having an impact on patients in the emergency department as well as staff at all levels.”

Lunik Sarder, an emergency medicine consultant and the academy lead, said: “I am very proud of what we’ve achieved with the academy. We are training up our doctors to provide a higher level of care to our patients.”

Samson Igbanoi, trust grade registrar, who is currently a member of the academy, said: “It has been quite challenging but also really inspiring. The programme has helped me track my development in the last few years.

“Seeing others graduate has been good, as you see the confidence they exude as they go about their work on the shop floor.

“I’m really excited to be part of the academy and looking forward to completing further training to develop my competencies and skills.”