Birmingham Women's Hospital
Birmingham Women’s Hospital (BWH) merged with Birmingham Children’s Hospital in February 2017 and the organisation is now known as Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust. Birmingham Women’s Hospital hosts obstetric, gynaecology (including fertility), clinical genetics and neonatal services.
Anaesthetic services are contracted from University Hospitals Birmingham via a service level agreement (SLA) and therefore all anaesthetists at BWH are employed by UHB. Anaesthetic services cover delivery suite (labour ward and elective and emergency theatres), antenatal clinic, gynaecology theatres, the assisted conception unit (ACU), and gynaecology pre-assessment clinic.
The obstetric unit is one of the largest in the country, with around 8000 deliveries annually. There is a midwifery-led unit adjacent to but separate from the main delivery suite. The caesarean section rate hovers about 35% and the epidural rate for labour analgesia is about 20%. The unit is covered by 12 consultant anaesthetists, many of whom also work in the other areas of the hospital. Trainee anaesthetists of all grades are welcomed and can complete Stage 1, 2 and 3 obstetric anaesthesia as well as a Special Interest Area in Obstetric Anaesthesia. Working in the obstetric unit is busy but interesting and varied. Out of hours there are two resident trainees covering anaesthetic activity.
There is ample opportunity to gain experience in management of complications of pregnancy and complex obstetric-medical cases. The majority of these are managed by joint obstetric and physician antenatal clinics and through MDT meetings and trainees are encouraged to attend these and all other obstetric activities on delivery suite. Involvement in audit, quality improvement, service evaluation and research activities are encouraged and there is an active education programme with a weekly journal club meeting and regular obstetric- anaesthesia simulation sessions. BWH is closely linked in with the Regional Maternal Medicine Network and involvement in this activity is encouraged and supported.
Whilst at UHB or BWH trainees may spend time in gynaecology theatres. There are two theatres running daily elective lists and there is opportunity to learn about all gynaecologist subspecialties including fertility, uro-gynaecology, cancer surgery and laparoscopic surgery. There is an established consultant-led gynaecology pre-assessment service that trainees are welcome to attend as part of their peri-operative medicine training.
Education Centre:
There is an education centre on the Lower Ground Floor with a library, lecture theatre and multiple seminar rooms available for booking.
Catering:
There is a WRVS shop on the ground floor, a staff canteen and out of hours a hot food (microwave meals) vending machine and other vending machines. The consultants fund a Nespresso coffee machine and snacks for those working in the department.
The nearby QE has a Costa Coffee, WHSmiths and M&S food open until late.
Facilities:
The anaesthetic department has an office on delivery suite with sofas for rest and 2 computers, fridge, microwave and boiling water dispenser. There are on-call rooms on the 4th floor occasionally used by consultants overnight and available to rest in prior to travel home. There is a separate anaesthetic consultant office in the radiology department available for educational meetings, joining MDT meetings on Teams and non-clinical work, which trainees are welcome to use for non-clinical work when not required for meetings.
Travel and Parking:
Parking is run by Q-park and as staff are employed by UHB, a QE pass is needed. There are 2 visitors car parks on the site and a pay and display outside BWH. All car parks get very full. There is some parking on nearby side roads but this gets full and is not secure.
University Train Station is a 5 minute walk from BWH and QEHB is on many local bus routes.
Other:
There is an onsite pharmacy open until 6pm for use by staff as well as patients, selling a range of usual pharmacy items.
Key Contacts:
Clinical Lead for Anaesthesia at BWH: Annabelle Whapples
The leads for particular areas of the curriculum are:
IACOA (EPA 3 & 4) – Annabelle Whapples (Annabelle.Whapples@uhb.nhs.uk)
Stage 1 – Jane Pilsbury (Jane.Pilsbury@uhb.nhs.uk)
Stage 2 - Khalid Hasan (Khalid.Hasan@uhb.nhs.uk)
Stage 3 - Anoop Surendran (Anoop.Surendran@uhb.nhs.uk)
Special Interest Area – Emma Plunkett (Emma.Plunkett@uhb.nhs.uk)
Higher JSDs Dr Yasmin Poonawala (Yasmin.poonawala2@uhb.nhs.uk)
Contact Details
Birmingham Women's Hospital
Mindelsohn Way
Birmingham
B15 2TG
Telephone (Main): 0121 472 1377
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