Paediatric Urology

Introduction

The Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust Paediatric Urology Visiting Professional Programme (VPP) is designed to provide international visiting professionals with the opportunity to experience first-hand our tertiary paediatric urology service, which specialises in posterior urethral valves, kidney stones, adolescent and antenatal care (through links with King’s College Hospital’s antenatal department) and bladder dysfunction. The programme offers a unique chance to be fully integrated within a service which is at the forefront of clinical activity, training and research.

The programmes are designed by our clinical leads to provide unique development experiences which enable visiting professionals to broaden their clinical expertise and learn new skills that can be transferred back to their work place. We are excited to deliver exclusive access to observe and work alongside our paediatric nephro-urology faculty and to provide an opportunity for international professionals to gain insight into our Trust and the role that our staff play within the NHS.

Programme aims

The programme is aimed at those who wish to extend their clinical expertise in paediatric urology medicine within Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

The aims of the programme include:

• The opportunity to have direct experience and exposure to theatre, clinics and ward rounds at a unique paediatric urology centre
• Participation in multidisciplinary team meetings
• Access to departmental and national seminars and teaching sessions
• The opportunity to develop networks and close links for future close working relations through peer mentorship throughout the programme from a named mentor
• The opportunity to complete specialty projects and research with a view to submission for peer review
• 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 Paediatric Urology programme is delivered within the hospital work place and it includes exposure to clinics, inpatient ward rounds, multidisciplinary team meetings, depending on the length of programme that visitors request.

Visiting professionals will be aligned with supervisors from within the clinical teams who will facilitate agreed learning and development needs. We would expect visiting professionals to be totally integrated in the day to day service within our paediatric metabolic team.

We will also provide visitors with the opportunity to get involved in research and improvement projects.

Who can apply

This programme is intended for non-U.K. senior residents or attending consultants with an interest in paediatric urology medicine.

Visitors have the choice of applying for a hands-on attachment or observership programme. Those wishing to apply for a hands-on 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 their website.

Programme duration

It is recommended that in order to get the most out of the Paediatric Urology programme, that visiting professionals undertake an observership placement of at least 6 weeks. However, the programme’s duration can be tailored to the specific learning requirements of those visiting the Trust.

Paediatric Urology service

Our urology service provides specialist care for children with kidney, bladder and genitalia problems from all over the UK and internationally. Our team works closely with the kidney and bladder department.

Many of the children cared for by our specialist team will have been diagnosed before they were born with many others developing kidney and bladder problems during their childhood. We treat children from prenatal scanning right up to the move to adult care.

The service specialises in prenatally diagnosed urinary tract problems (e.g. hydronephrosis, cystic kidneys), posterior urethral valves, genital abnormalities (e.g. hypospadias), bladder problems (e.g. urinary incontinence), renal stones and pre and post-renal transplant management.

Our paediatric nephro-urology service

• Cares for children throughout their childhood into adulthood
• Offers both outpatient and inpatient services for planned and emergency treatment
• Has a dedicated chronic kidney disease service
• Has integrated dialysis facilities, offering both peritoneal dialysis (home based) and haemodialysis (hospital based)
• Offers renal transplantation services

Beach, the paediatric renal and urology inpatient floor contains 18 beds, including four cubicles for children with infections that may need isolation. Crab zone, the integrated dialysis unit is located on Beach. The inpatient service is covered by one consultant nephrologist and a consultant urologist on call on a weekly basis

Research

We are actively involved in research projects and clinical trials to improve urology treatment. One of our current projects is on regenerative medicine with the aim of developing a tissue engineered bladder for children who need complex bladder reconstruction.

Clinics

• General urology clinic
• Posterior urethral valves (PUV) clinic
• Foreskin clinic
• Complex urology clinic
• Young onset urology clinic – for children and young adults whose care is moving to adult services
• Perinatal clinic – a specialist clinic for conditions detected whilst having an ultrasound when pregnant
• Anorectal malformation VACTERL clinic
• Telephone clinic
• Stone clinic
• Joint endocrine urology clinic – a specialist clinic for children with both urological and endocrine conditions
• Hypospadias clinic

Example Timetable

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.