Staff stories
We employ approximately 6,000 staff who work in a range of different premises across Torbay and south Devon such as community hospitals and clinics. We have around 500,000 face-to-face contacts with patients in their homes and communities each year and see over 78,000 people in our Emergency Department annually. We serve a resident population of approximately 286,000 people, plus about 100,000 visitors at any one time during the summer holiday season.
Find out more about our staff and our services by reading our staff stories.
Nick Edmeades, specialist trainee in ophthalmology
“I spent my ST2 and ST4 years of ophthalmology training at Torbay and had an excellent experience both times. Educational and clinical supervisors were organised, accessible and provided regular, constructive feedback. Timetables were mindful of training requirements such as dedicated refraction training sessions in my ST2 year. Study leave was encouraged and even supported an Orbis trip to Panama. The workplace environment is busy, energetic and extremely friendly. The on-site facilities include the invaluable EyeSi simulator as well as a dedicated ghost head and artificial eyes for infinite use. This led to my completion of 160 phacoemulsification cases in my ST2 year and over 220 in ST4. As a more senior trainee I was also able to supervise a junior in theatre with a consultant present – an experience that has better prepared me for a consultant role. I would unreservedly recommend any training opportunities in Torbay.”
Kyle Stewart
“My name is Kyle Stewart and I am one of the GPST1 trainees currently in paediatrics. I first came to Torbay Hospital in 2010 and was successful in converting to an academic Foundation Year 2 programme. The hospital was extremely supportive of the work I carried out during this time and I ended up staying at the hospital for another three years in a bespoke role, doing 50% trust grade medicine and 50% innovation, research and medical education. This has allowed me to patent two new products which go on sale in 2016, to perform research and to complete projects leading to publications in peer-reviewed journals. The key thing about Torbay is that the faculty are accommodating and will always support junior doctors with special interests or ambitions where possible, hence why I haven’t moved hospital since arriving here five years ago!
Outside of the hospital Torbay also offers sandy beaches, watersports, an active nightlife and plenty of local amenities, definitely living up to its name as “the English Riviera”. It has been a pleasure to live and work in Torbay.”
Sophie McGlade – Trust Fellow Doctor
“I am working in Torbay as a Trust Fellow having completed my F2 year of Foundation Training here. In my role I am working in Trauma and Orthopaedics and Acute Medicine during the course of the year and 30% of my time is spent in non-clinical activities. I have an interest in healthcare management, leadership and innovation and I will be funded to take part in a Postgraduate Certificate course in this area. There is plenty of support available in Torbay to assist trainees in becoming involved in the many varied educational and training opportunities on offer; from funding towards qualifications in clinical education, opportunities to teach other trainees and medical students, involvement in simulation training and development of quality improvement projects and audits.
I have very much enjoyed my training in Torbay, it is a friendly learning environment with supportive senior doctors very willing to teach. I feel that my time working in Torbay has enabled me to develop my skills and interests as a doctor and equipped me well for the future.”