NEUROLOGY

The neurology departments at Ipswich and Colchester Hospital offer comprehensive services for patients with disorders of the brain and nervous system. The team is complemented by an on-site neurophysiology team. They also have close links with the neurosurgical teams at Addenbrooke’s (Ipswich) and Queen’s Hospital (Colchester).

Colchester Hospital

Neurology at Colchester hospital is predominantly an outpatient specialty with a wide range of clinics available to attend. There are also inpatient opportunities through seeing ward referrals alongside the consultant on-call.

Ipswich Hospital

The neurology team at Ipswich hospital is made up of 5 consultants, 1 higher speciality trainee, and 2 IMT doctors (who are shared with rheumatology).

The neurology department at Ipswich hospital benefits from having inpatient beds on a shared ward with general medicine. In addition, there is a wide range of outpatient clinics where the majority of neurology patients are managed.

Speaking from experience, Neurology registrar training at Ipswich is great! It has been my favourite DGH neurology rotation in the East of England region. The department is small, friendly and supportive, from our five consultants to our specialist nurses, secretaries and allied healthcare professionals. As a trainee, you really feel that you are part of a committed and caring multidisciplinary team full of colleagues who strive to do their best for patients and each other. The educational supervisors are very good and take registrar development seriously. If you are just starting your neurology training, you will find yourself very well supported.

Consultants are readily available to offer supervision, guidance and teaching, including on the daily consultant ward round and with each of the registrar clinics. Equally if you are more senior, the rotation provides an excellent opportunity to practice with increasing independence and explore some subspecialty interests. There is lots of scope and support if you wish to pursue a particular project. Overall, Ipswich is a great place to get stuck in to typical DGH neurology and I would highly recommend the rotation.