SSMs are my saviour

Editor - In the clinical years of the Manchester course students can choose some of their clinical attachments-special study modules (SSMs). I understand that this is a new concept in UK medical education and that it does not happen in every UK course.

I want to praise the idea of SSMs. They have greatly benefited my personal medical education.

This year my non-optional attachments were three in general medicine and one in general surgery. I did not get much out of the surgery attachment as it was during the winter flu crisis and elective surgery was cancelled because beds were full of medical patients. As a result, I was on general medicine all year round. For someone with a keen interest in surgery this was soul destroying. It got to a point where I had seen everything before and had stopped learning new things. I was very reluctant to attend ward rounds or clinics, which is very unusual for me.

My two SSMs (optional attachments) were in burns and plastics and in general surgery. I got as much out of these as possible, finding a new sense of keenness.

SSMs allow students to study subjects of their own interest or subjects that they feel weak in. Often only one student is on an attachment-there are more opportunities for personal tuition, and a single student (as opposed to four) can be incorporated as a member of the team. This is further enhanced if the SSM is in a district general hospital. Students are rare here, therefore doctors are keen to teach rather than obliged to teach, as in a teaching hospital.

In summary, SSMs have injected much needed variety into my year, and allowed me to fill in perceived gaps in my clinical experience, while giving me a sense of belonging.

Amit Bidwai, third year medical student, University of Manchester
Email: Mmmr6asb@stud.man.ac.uk


studentBMJ 2000;08:303-346 September ISSN 0966-6494