Publish date: 6 March 2024

The Trust’s Older People's Mental Health Service (OPMHS) has been recognised by NHS England.

The Quality Team for NHS England - London have been working on a project to identify, celebrate and share good practice in medical education across London.

As part of this, our OPMHS has been commended for its continuous improvement in training.

The Quality Team looked at the GMC National Training Survey feedback since 2019, which shows year on year improvement.

In 2023, our older adult training posts had two green feedback scores, which were above the national average, and there has been consistent improvement for areas such as clinical supervision, handover of care, adequate experience, local teaching and trainees' experience of feeling supported.

In the 2023 GMC National Training Survey 92 percent of doctors in training described the Trust as a supportive environment and 84 percent would recommend their post to a friend. The next survey opens in March 2024.

In their letter to the Trust Dr Gary Wares, Dean for Medical Education and Dr Liz Carty, Interim Local Postgraduate Dean, said: "We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank all those involved in fostering this healthy and safe learning environment."

Dr Daniel Andrews, Director of Medical Education said: "This is a tremendous reflection of the commitment and support shown by our consultant trainers and everyone involved in training and the delivery of our older adult services.

"Thank you, your contributions make a real difference and it is so good to see this acknowledged and celebrated by NHS England - London."

Dr Suhana Ahmed, Clinical Director for Older People's Mental Health Services, said: "We were delighted with the recognition from NHSE- London regarding the consistent and high quality training that is provided within the service line.

"I know personally the benefit of having supportive and nurturing supervisors as a trainee which is what we provide here.

"This achievement is not mine, it is the substantive consultants in OPMHS who have continued to provide high-quality training and support despite Covid-19 in the last few years, consultant vacancies (and so covering aspects like supervision), an expanding service and demand increasing.”

She added: "I feel incredibly proud and would like to say a big thank you to NHS England - London and the medical education team here at West London NHS Trust."