Early Clinical Experience (ECE) in Year 2 builds on the foundations of Year 1 and more deliberately intends to support you in your transition to Year 3 through becoming familiar with how to learn in a clinical environment. It continues to have 2 components; (1) Simulation based learning and (2) Practice based learning.

Simulation based learning: Consultation skills (CSLC, Stopford building)

Throughout Year 2 you will continue to attend consultation skills teaching sessions in the Consultation Skills Learning Centre (CSLC), Stopford Building.

The sessions will continue to build on the skills and approaches you have developed in Year 1, tailored to the context of your semesters. You will be introduced to further methods of consulting, new physical examinations, and the skills of talking with colleagues. Some sessions will be entirely immersive. These are to prepare you for how to learn in a clinical environment.

During the sessions you will be working in small groups with simulated patients and tutors. Together you will explore and reflect on the patient experience as you begin to intentionally cultivate your approach through developing the skills, knowledge, attitudes and reflective practice needed to care for people thoughtfully, practice safely and work well with colleagues.

The teaching will be building on the knowledge you have acquired in your TBL, Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Behavioural and Social Sciences, and Ethics and Law sessions. The integrated nature of our teaching will be tested through dedicated Clinical Competency Assessments, CCAs (see Assessments section).

Practice Based Learning

The aims of your ECE are to provide you “authentic (real as opposed to simulated) human contact in a social or clinical context that enhances learning of health, illness and disease, and the role of the health professional.”

The foundation of your practice-based learning is to develop your confidence to interact with patients and colleagues in your role as a medical student, gain understanding of the NHS systems you will become a part of and hear from patients to develop your understanding of illness experiences. A key aspect of this learning is to develop your confidence in, and understanding of, how to learn in a clinical environment in preparation for the workplace-based learning you will undertake in Year 3.

Practice based learning is made up of experiences in Hospital and Community Care.

Hospital Visits 

Hospital visits serve to develop your understanding of the patient care journey in hospitals, the health care professionals’ roles and the clinical context. Visits will involve you becoming aware of each of the hospital’s policies and practices to ensure staff and patients are safe. You will visit wards and talk with patients and staff to hear about their experiences.

All your visits will be at the Clinical Education Campus (main or satellite hospitals) that you will be based at from Year 3 onwards, so you can become familiar with your own trust. Please take the time to read the important information on 1medinfo before your visit: Information for Hospital Visits

ECE Psychiatry: You will take part in a session facilitated by a Psychiatry team as they guide you through what their profession entails and you get a chance to talk with a patient educator. This session will be online with your TBL student group.

Community Placements

You will attend two full day GP visit in semester 3, Year 2. You will attend the visit as a pair of students.

The ECE GP visits are an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in General Practice and observe patient interactions in an authentic environment. General Practice ECE visits offers you the chance to experience the reality of clinical practice within primary care, the visit will support you to understand further how primary care works and enable you to appreciate the diverse context in which different people live their lives. Structured debrief following your visit will facilitate you to generate meaningful reflections about your experiences.

Students are expected to be registered with a GP at their term time address. If you are placed for ECE visits at the GP surgery where you are registered you should advise the Community Placement as soon as possible. It is best practice to keep your work and personal contact with General Practice separate whenever this is feasible. Your personal data at your registered GP remains confidential.

Early Clinical Debrief (ECD)

ECD is a small-group teaching session that helps you develop your clinical reasoning and communication skills early in your medical training. In each session, you’ll watch a real GP consultation and take part in a guided discussion with a GP tutor and a small group of fellow students online.

Together, you’ll explore how the consultation was structured, how the GP communicated with the patient, and what clinical decisions were made. It’s a chance to reflect, ask questions, and learn from real-life examples in a safe and supportive environment.

You’ll attend 3-4 ECD sessions across the year. These sessions are designed to link with what you’re learning in communication skills and your GP placements, helping you make sense of real clinical practice right from the start.

Becoming a Doctor

You will attend a half-day community placement to explore the roles of professionals in health, social care, education, and related sectors. The experience will support your understanding of multidisciplinary teamwork, effective communication with community-based professionals, and the diverse social, cultural, and environmental factors influencing people’s health and wellbeing. You will be immersed in the local population, helping you to better understand the community we serve.

Everyone will experience different placements, and we encourage you to share your learning with your peers. Please engage with the information provided about your placement before attending to ensure you arrive prepared. We are grateful to the many community partners who welcome you into their spaces. Please honour this opportunity by engaging fully and learning from every experience.

Representing the University and the medical profession

Every time you meet patients, families or healthcare professionals, you’re not only learning — you’re representing the values and standards of both the University and the medical profession, to which you now belong. It’s an opportunity to show respect, curiosity and professionalism, and to build trust and positive connections with everyone you encounter. Please:

• Show compassion and respect to everyone you meet — patients, staff, and fellow students alike.
• Be grateful for others time and embrace every learning opportunity with curiosity and enthusiasm.
• Know your limits, don’t hesitate to ask for support or guidance when needed.
• Take responsibility for your learning, be proactive in seeking opportunities to develop.
• Always be appropriately supervised when performing any clinical tasks to ensure patient safety and support your learning.
• Dress intentionally; you don’t need to lose your identity but do consider how to show up as a professional version of yourself. You’ll be speaking with patients about personal matters and working alongside future colleagues — your appearance can help build trust, show respect, and support confident communication. Guidance is available in the dress code document (See FBMH Professionalism Policy and Guidance, pages 9-13) or ask for guidance.
• You must adhere to the infection control standards required of all NHS staff (e.g. handwashing, bare below the elbow etc). These standards may vary between NHS trusts, so stay alert to local policies and follow the guidance of your supervisors. Maintaining these practices is part of your professional responsibility to protect patients, colleagues, and yourself.
• Communicate professionally — in person, in writing, and online. Be punctual, clear, and respectful in all interactions. If you’re running late or unable to attend it is essential you inform the relevant person as early as possible.
• Direct patients to the appropriate health professional where necessary.
• Make sure you understand the principles of consent and confidentiality — they’re core to professional practice and central to the GMC’s Duties of a Doctor. Duties of a Doctor.
• Speak up thoughtfully if you have concerns about patient or staff wellbeing—Your voice matters.
• Take care of your own wellbeing and safety as an essential part of becoming a healthy, effective person and healthcare professional.
• Reflect on your interactions purposefully to develop your approach to your learning and practice as a medical student.

Important note: Clinical environments can sometimes experience pressures that are unpredictable. As such planned experiences may change last minute – we ask for your flexibility and understanding.

Occupational Health Screening: 

As the practical nature of this course brings you into contact with patients you are required to attend Occupational Health appointments starting in semester 1. Occupational health are concerned with the prevention of ill health, they will ensure you have the required immunisations, minimising the risk of infection to both patients and you. Attending your occupational health appointments and completing your immunisations is imperative to ensure you are safe to learn in clinical environments. See: Student Occupational Health.

Attendance, Timetable, Travel Arrangements:

Your personal timetable is available on 1Med. Please check this regularly as scheduled activities may be changed during term time or at unavoidably short notice. Where this happens, we will endeavour to email you but request that you also check your timetable regularly and take responsibility to ensure you are aware of commitments that week.

If you are unable to attend a scheduled clinical visit, it’s essential to contact your tutor and clinical partner as early as possible. This helps your tutor manage the session smoothly and allows your clinical partner to adjust their plans accordingly. Timely communication shows professionalism, respect for others’ time, and supports a positive learning environment for everyone involved.

Plan your route carefully and aim to arrive early.