The Alternative Handbook

Papworth

Links
ERWebpage               Hospital Website               Google Map


Travel to Location
By Car:
Definitely the best way. If you don't have a car, beg.
Take the Madingley Road out of Cambridge, pass Churchill and the American Cemetery and keep going. Follow the signs to Bedford at all roundabouts [on A428]. After about 10 miles, you need to turn right (towards Huntingdon on the sign before the roundabout) [A1198]. The hospital is on the right a mile down this road, just after the signs protesting about the evil Papworth Trust. The journey takes 20 minutes.
Parking is free as long as you apply for a permit prior to going to the hospital (the clinical school pays for the permit themselves). The permit will then be in your introductory pack when you arrive at Papworth. It only allows you to park at the accommodation, not the hospital.

By Bus:
There are buses between Cambridge and Papworth, but the vast majority of people drive or get lifts.


Accommodation
Most people do not stay in accommodation at Papworth, it is 15-20 minutes drive from Cambridge and your LEA will fund ~HOW MANY return journeys to/from Papworth (if you do apply for accommodation you'll only get travel expenses for the start/end of your attachment).


Hospital Facilities
There is no cash machine within the hospital, so come prepared.

Doctors' Mess
There is a canteen next to the Doctors' Mess/Student area, which does a staff discount on hot food (making it reasonably priced). The Mess itself has tea/coffee making stuff and a microwave.


Local Amenities
 There is a post-office/convenience store about 5 minutes walk from the Hospital (turn right out of the front of the hospital and, staying on that side of the road, walk straight. You'll cross a crossroads and then come to it. It sells extortionately expensive sandwiches, but does do cash back (for a fee).


Teaching
During your stay at Papworth you'll have a number of "Core Lectures", these are given on the main diseases of the heart and lungs and cover both pathology and clinical details. There are also more practical teaching sessions arranged on ITU, radiology, cardiology etc. However, these sessions can be very variable - both in whether they happen and quality. Sometimes you are notified of teaching cancellation/postponement via a white board in the student area.

You will also be expected to write and deliver a 10 minute Grand-Round style presentation to your colleagues and a doctor whilst you are at Papworth. This is nothing to worry about, but should include a case you've seen and then details of the underlying disease.

Cardiology/Cardiac SurgeryThe cardiac wards are the Surgical Ground-Floor Unit, Mallard, Hemingford, Cardiac Unit and Varrier-Jones. Patients for elective CABG/valve repair arrive from ~2pm for surgery the next day, and it is a very good idea to try and clerk these patients in before their surgery the next morning. To get the list, either ask on one of the wards or bleep the surgical SHO on call (509), who might be happy for you to do some of his/her work!





Comments or questions about the website to: Nima Ghadiri