In your communications skills sessions, you will interview simulated patients, many of whom are professional actors.
Simulated patients both portray the characteristics of and respond as real patients to help you to learn and develop your consultation skills.
You will observe students in your group undertake consultations in real-time via a video-link. You will learn how to provide detailed, descriptive and non-judgmental feedback, and by observing each other will be able to hone your own consultation skills.
Within our Year 2 clinical skills curriculum you will attend specific sessions to help you to begin to develop your clinical reasoning skills – thinking about the cause for a particular patient’s symptoms.
In Years 3, 4 and 5 this teaching is consolidated by attending communication masterclasses tutored by GP and hospital clinicians.
In recent times it has become more necessary for many doctors to conduct consultations remotely via video call. We have responded to these developments quickly, adapting our communication skills teaching to ensure students are equipped with the skills and confidence to conduct this type of consultation effectively.