'Thrown in at the deep end': a qualitative analysis into the transition from trainee to consultant during the COVID-19 pandemic and lessons for the future.

Background: Sustained crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic would be expected to impact the transition from trainee to consultant for anaesthetists or intensivists, but limited research exists on this important topic. This study aimed to examine the social context of this crucial career transition during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with anaesthetists and intensivists who became consultants after the first UK lockdown.

Simulation to develop tomorrow's medical registrar.

Background:  Critical incident analysis reveals that poor performance in 'human-factor' or non-technical skills, such as decision making, leadership, teamwork and situational awareness, are frequently identified as key underlying features leading to adverse events. Simulation technology is a rapidly emerging modality used to develop technical and non-technical skills within specialist training as increasing shift-pattern work reduces work-based exposure and learning opportunities. To date, however, there is little literature regarding its use within core medical training to develop crisis resource management skills and medical registrar competency.

Small-scale electrical resistivity tomography of wet fractured rocks.

This paper describes a series of experiments that tested the ability of the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) method to locate correctly wet and dry fractures in a meso-scale model. The goal was to develop a method of monitoring the flow of water through a fractured rock matrix. The model was a four by six array of limestone blocks equipped with 28 stainless steel electrodes.