Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, providing inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor Hospital has approx 450 beds and houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. We provide high quality, friendly and effective community health services from some 60 sites including health centres and GP surgeries. Covering Walsall and beyond, our multidisciplinary services include rapid response in the community and home based care, so that those with long term conditions and the frail elderly, can remain in their own homes to be cared for.
Why apply here?
We offer friendly, well supported training for the 70 FY doctors who work here. Our rotations will give you a broad experience of acute care in FY1, with community experience in FY2. We have placements in psychiatry and sexual health, and have just started placements with the frailty service, which spans the acute hospital and the community. Recent JEST and GMC reports have been positive about Foundation Training
Manor Learning & Conference Centre Library has a full range of library services. The staff there are very keen to support Foundation Doctors and will help with writing case reports, doing QI and clinical queries.
Clinical learning suites
We use a simulation suite and a clinical skills laboratory to support training . All FY doctors coming through Walsall will have an opportunity to use them.
Testimonials
This is what 2 of our current FY1s have to say about working in Walsall
Dr Alfie Butt
‘I've now been an F1 doctor at Walsall Manor for 9 months and I've really enjoyed all three of my placements. I started on paediatrics with the opportunity to work in the neonatal ward, paediatric assessment unit and main children's ward - I also had scheduled time to attend the paediatric clinics. Without working paediatric on calls it meant there was more time for other activities and I was able to present two case presentations, and enjoy every weekend off! It was a great opportunity to get a taste of paediatrics as a whole, while working with a really friendly and supportive team.
I then moved to cardiology and general medicine and while the amount of work increased, with weekends and on calls, I still found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable placement. I was able to practice echocardiography, spend some time in the cath lab, and help run a DC Cardioversion list.
Now starting on general surgery there's even more varied work and opportunities. As the team we cover the elective surgery ward, acute surgical patients and some of the day case theatre patients. There's a good variety of surgical patients and the opportunity to go to theatre if the work load is shared out.
The main thing I've noticed working at Walsall and that remains consistent across all three jobs is the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff right from top to bottom. So far it has been an excellent hospital to kick start my career.
Dr Johnson Pok-Him Tam
‘I've had a great time working here at Walsall since the start of my FY1 year. It's a friendly hospital to work in and staff are helpful to the new Doctors. I started on General Surgery where I was well supported by the members of the Senior Team and encouraged to attend theatre sessions. I learnt a lot of procedures and was supervised to perform a few of them as well. The Consultants are great teachers.
Next rotation was Anaesthetics, although patients were generally more unwell because of the critical care nature of this rotation, senior staff still taught us a lot about human physiology and were happy in answering any queries we may have. In particular, I enjoyed the theatre part of this rotation and was well supervised by the Consultants to anaesthetise patients.
Walsall Manor Hospital is a great hospital to start for any Doctors. I think the size of the hospital allows enough teaching to be provided by Senior Doctors but also to see a breadth of common conditions. '
Follow this link to see what FY1s, Dr's Victoria Vilenchik, Navdeep Bhamra and Datapwa Mujong have to say about working here https://youtu.be/N3exHS5Cx7o
We believe that happy, well supported doctors will provide the best care for patients. We therefore have lots of support for you and your learning.
Dr Georgia Layton, the Mess President, says ‘Walsall Manor has a lively and welcoming Doctors Mess . The Mess itself is three large areas in the heart of the hospital that provides tea, coffee, toast and biscuits with air conditioning and Sky TV- open 24 hours a day for the use of all mess members. In the mess, there is always a friendly face to chat to and problem-solve with and it is a great opportunity to get to know your colleagues.
For just £10 per month, there are monthly lunchtime feasts – pizza, samosas, kebabs, Nandos, subways – and monthly social events outside of work. Social events this year have included go-karting, laser quest and early evening meals in Walsall. There are also monthly pay-day parties, often held in conjunction with other hospitals across the West Midlands – attended by more than 100 junior doctors, these events are loved by all and a fantastic opportunity to meet other doctors in the region. Finally, the highlight of the year is often the Summer Ball – a black tie event held in beautiful locations across the region. Best of all, all events are heavily subsidised by the mess and almost always 100% free!’
Accommodation
Dr Hirushi Jayasekera, one of the current FY1s, says ‘Living in the doctors' accommodation has its own benefits. Being a mere 10 minute walk away from the hospital, it saves the burden of traffic and travel arrangements into work each morning. It is also conveniently located close to Walsall town which offers an array of restaurants with multicultural cuisine, grocery stores, the weekend fair and even the leather museum (if you're feeling adventurous). Twenty minutes by train and you're in Birmingham City Centre! The accommodation itself is clean and maintained by supportive staff. As a junior doctor of Walsall Manor Hospital, I recommend living on-site.’
The Town
Shopping and other amenities
Walsall town centre and it’s new Waterfront development are in walking distance from the hospital and the accommodation. The Waterfront offers a cinema and art gallery as well as an expanding choice of restaurants. There are 3 gyms and a 24 hour Tesco within walking distance of the hospital and the accommodation.
Other attractions Birmingham is a 20 minute train journey away, with a multitude of attractions for all pockets and tastes. If open air is your thing, then Sutton Park and Cannock Chase are both nearby and offer walking, cycling and horse riding opportunities. The Peak District and the Welsh countryside and coast are easily accessible by car.
Walsall Arboretum is a beautiful Victorian park near the town centre. There is lots going on here including weekly couch to 5K and beyond sessions, and a very popular Park Run on Saturday mornings.
Walsall Art Gallery This is an excellent gallery, within walking distance of the hospital, with an eclectic permanent collection and a large number of temporary exhibitions. Highly recommended.
Walsall Leather Museum Did you know that Walsall was considered the leather capital of the world (and this tradition is still present in the nickname of Walsall FC – The Saddlers). Luxury leather goods, including The Queen’s handbags, are still made here. At the Leather Museum you can find out more about the trade and buy leather bags and other goods.
If you have any queries about Foundation Training in Walsall please contact:
Or ring the Postgraduate Team on 01922 721172 x7199
Page updated: 10 July 2018