The HEE Wessex Occupational Medicine programme is based in Southampton General Hospital, with external placements outside of the NHS. Clinics may also be carried out at the University of Southampton.
University Hospitals Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust is an acute tertiary referral centre. The Occupational Health department is located on the Southampton General Hospital site. The department is headed by Occupational Medicine Consultants, Dr Julia Smedley and Dr Angela Skidmore, both having considerable experience in medical education and in support of specialty trainees.
The department has a multi-disciplinary team of Occupational Health Physicians, Occupational Health nursing and administrative staff and provides Occupational Health services to UHS, Universities of Southampton and a number of external clients.
The Occupational Medicine training programme at UHS is designed to deliver the competencies set out in the Faculty of Occupational Medicine spiral curriculum. It is primarily NHS-based, but with the opportunity for experience of Occupational Medicine in other sectors through the Occupational Health department’s external client base.
External placements are also likely to be arranged, including to another NHS Trust, to an external commercial Occupational Health provider and to the military. Military occupational medicine trainees and trainees from other specialties periodically have placements in the department, allowing for shared learning experiences and collaboration. There is also a link to the Medical Research Council (MRC) unit adjoining the hospital site, providing research opportunities.