Sleep

Introduction

Guy’s and St Thomas’ Sleep Visiting Professional Programme is designed to provide international health care professionals with the opportunity to experience our highly acclaimed sleep service and its specialist clinics. The aim of our programme is to provide a unique development experience which broadens visiting professionals’ clinical education and enables them to learn new skills that can be transferred back to their work place.

Programme aims

The Visiting Professional Programme is designed by our expert sleep team to provide an understanding of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Sleep service and our specialist sleep clinics.

The programme aims to include:

• Direct experience and exposure of clinics and ward rounds
• Opportunities to participate in internal meetings and educational activities, such as the multidisciplinary team meeting and grand rounds
• An insight in to the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach in the management of severe sleep disorders
• Interaction with the wide range of faculty that contribute towards patient care within the sleep service, including nurses, psychologists and technicians, so as to gain an understanding of the assessment and management pathways
• Experience of the NHS and working in one of the largest teaching hospitals in Central London
• An understanding of the different service models and the chance to review and assess the viability of the models in different clinical environments, such as the visitor’s home country

Individual weekly timetables will be created depending on each visiting professional’s requirements.

A Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to visitors upon the end of their programme.

Format

The programme is delivered within the hospital work place as we have a dedicated Sleep Disorders Centre called Nuffield House, which is located at Guy’s Hospital. The programme also includes exposure to clinics, wards and internal education activities such as teaching meetings.

The programme is designed to fully integrate visitors within the day to day service of our sleep department. Visitors will be aligned with a supervisor from within the clinical team who will provide one to one support and ensure that all of the learning and development needs and expectations are met.

Who can apply

This programme is intended for non U.K. advanced trainee clinicians, registrars and consultants who wish to learn more about the diagnosis, treatment and management of severe sleeping disorders.

Visitors have the choice of applying for a practical attachment or an observership programme. Those wishing to apply for a practical attachment must have GMC registration. You can apply for GMC registration directly through the main GMC website, alternatively The Royal College of Physicians run a medical training initiative which facilitates GMC registration and provides sponsorship for a Tier 5 visa. You can find out more about their Medical Training Initiative by visiting the GMC website here.

Programme duration

Our placements normally run between three to 12 months. The programme’s duration can be tailored to the specific learning requirements of those visiting the Trust.

Fees

A course fee per week will be applied; this fee excludes accommodation and travelling expenses. To find out the fee amount please email vpp@gstt.nhs.uk.

Please note

Clinicians are able to offer bursaries or discounted placements on an individual basis. This is at the discretion of the Directorates of GSTT and does not affect the terms and conditions of the Visiting Professional Programme agreements.