Communication is a key part of being able to be responsive as a team. We know that there will always be times at which our colleagues feel overwhelmed, be that clinically or even personally and to have open lines of communication where you are available it critical. At Croydon University Hospital, what we did was to setup two WhatsApp groups.

FY1/FY2 Group

Before our Foundation doctors arrive to work with us, we set up two WhatsApp groups for both cohorts. The reason to do this is to allow them to start networking with each other before they even start and to become familiar and comfortable with one another.

Another reason is to have an ongoing mechanism for them to communicate with each other should they have any problems or need to ask each other questions. The WhatsApp group also includes the Foundation Programme Directors, the head of the Postgraduate Centre as well as the Foundation Programme Co-ordinator, should they need to respond in realtime to any concerns that their colleagues may have.

Weekend On-Call Group

What we know is that weekends can be scary times for Foundation doctors. They are the most junior clinicians in the hospital and sometimes will find their weekend on-call challenging and have no-one to turn to as everyone else is exceedingly busy.

The on-call WhatsApp group is setup every weekend by the Foundation Programme Director who monitors the group on weekends to ensure that there are no significant problems occurring.

The FY1 doctors know that if they have a problem which they are finding difficult to resolve, or cannot tell anyone senior about for whatever reason that may be, they can post on the group for support.