How Oxford University Hospitals cardiology department use the national training survey results to support continuous improvement
Since 2018, the cardiology department at Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust has received consistently good national training survey results in a range of areas, including regional and local teaching, educational governance, supportive environments, and rota design.
The department regularly assesses the national training survey results to identify areas of improvement and seeks feedback from trainees on how they can achieve this. This proactive approach has helped the department to maintain high quality training.
What action was taken?
After reviewing the national training survey results in 2018, it was identified that trainees would like to have more time with educational supervisors and that they wanted them to be more familiar with the challenges they faced. In response the department:
- made changes to educational supervisors’ timetable, to allow them sufficient time to meet with their trainees
- implemented a detailed supervision course for all newly appointed consultants
- created a postgraduate medical education strategy, one strand of which focuses on the continuing professional development of educational supervisors
- funded a course for educational supervisors on educational leadership and quality improvement.
As a result of these changes, educational supervisors are now more engaged with trainees and have adequate time to work with them.
The department also identified improvements to support rota designs and workloads. To help address this they:
- hired more specialist trainees, including a dedicated specialist to support on-call weekend cover
- allowed trainees to manage the rota so they can make sure they have time for training.
What was the outcome?
These changes have led to the department receiving above average scores for rota design since 2019. Trainees also fed back that their learning and wellbeing are now prioritised.
Trainees have rated local teaching at the department as above average in the national training survey. This is a result of the department hosting teaching days that are developed in consultation with trainees and usual activities, such as clinics, are rescheduled to allow most trainees to attend.
The 2022 national training survey results evidenced that the department’s initiatives to improve teaching, support for trainees, and rota design are working well, receiving above average scores in these areas. The department will continue to monitor progress through the national training survey and identify further areas for improvement.
