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Dr Geoffrey Wells

Dr Geoffrey Wells (MD MRCP MBBS BSc (Hons) PGCert (MedEd) MAcadMEd)

Senior Lecturer in Medical Education and Palliative Medicine
E: G.Wells@bsms.ac.uk
T: 01273646455 ext 64245 or 67613
Location: Southpoint (Royal Sussex County Hospital), 7 Paston Place, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1HA

Areas of expertise: Palliative Medicine, End of Life Care, Care of the Dying, Complex Symptom Control, Complex Communication Skills, Simulation in Medical Education.

Research areas: Using Simulation to teach medical students to care for dying patients and their families.

Biography

Geoffrey is a Senior Lecturer at BSMS, and Consultant in Palliative Medicine at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT). After completing comprehensive education at Pimlico School, Geoffrey initially trained as a nurse, completing his degree in 2004. He worked full time in the cardiothoracic department, Atkinson Morley Wing, St George’s Hospital Tooting before applying to study medicine in 2006. He completed his undergraduate training at St George’s, University of London in 2011 before undertaking foundation training at Worthing General Hospital (2011-2013), and core medical training at the Royal Sussex County Hospital (2013-2015). He commenced specialty training in Palliative Medicine in 2015, which has seen him train in a wide variety of hospital, hospice and community settings across North-West and Central London, Surrey and Sussex, managing patients from a variety of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Upon completion of specialist training in 2022 he undertook a locum consultant position at ESHT before obtaining his current substantive post at BSMS.

Research

Geoffrey completed a two-year Medical Doctorate combining his interests of both palliative medicine and medical education. His research looked at whether simulation can be used to teach medical students how to care for a dying patient and their family, specifically whether undergraduate confidence and preparedness in caring for the dying can be improved. Interest in this was sparked by annual foundation doctor feedback which repeatedly demonstrated a perceived lack of undergraduate preparation to care for the dying. This is currently very topical with clear outcomes and expectations for graduating medical students to be able to care for dying patients with skill, empathy, and compassion. Since completing his MD Geoffrey has presented his work at both national and international level, with successful publication in peer reviewed journals. Additionally, his research work has led to the successful integration of care of the dying simulations as part of the BSMS undergraduate curriculum.

Teaching

During both his undergraduate and postgraduate training Geoffrey has sought opportunities to teach others. As a fourth-year medical student, he was involved in the peer support teaching group at St Georges, teaching medical students from Years 1 and 2 both clinical and examination skills. Geoffrey built upon this during his foundation and core training taking opportunities to present at grand rounds, as well as teaching allied health professionals and medical students. As a specialist trainee he organised a regional palliative care journal club, bringing together trainees from Charing Cross and St Mary’s hospitals as well as two local hospices. He continues to enjoy teaching in a variety of settings, to undergraduate, postgraduate and allied health professionals. In his new role Geoffrey is involved in developing and supporting the Education Fellows within the local and regional trusts. He will also continue to deliver specialist palliative care teaching throughout the BSMS curriculum, and in the postgraduate setting within ESHT. He is taking an active part in the organisation and delivery of the care of the dying simulation teaching as part of the F0 module and is looking forward to developing his skills and passion further as a senior lecturer.

Selected publications

Wells G, Llewellyn C, Hiersche A, Minton O, Barclay D, Wright J. Care of the Dying – medical student confidence and preparedness: mixed-methods simulation study. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care. 2022. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2022-003698

Kirtchuk D, Wells G, Levett T, Castledine C, de Visser R. Understanding the impact of academic difficulties among medical students: A scoping review. Medical Education. 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.14624

Wells G, Llewellyn C, Hiersche A, Minton O, Wright J. Medical student anxiety in caring for dying patients and their family: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. 2021. DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-003331

Wells G, Youssef E, Winter R, Wright J, Llewellyn C. Medical student confidence in care of the dying and their family: a systematic review. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. 2021. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-001977

Smith C, Alderton D, Clifford K, Wells G. A Good Death – Can the Concept Be Applied to Anatomy? Anatomical Sciences Education. 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.1969

Wells G, Montgomery J, Hiersche A. Simulation to improve medical student confidence and preparedness to care for the dying: a feasibility study. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care. 2019. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-001853

Wells G, Halley A, Marlow C, Dronay J. A retrospective audit of the palliative care team electronic MDT proforma at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care. 2018 (Abstract only) DOI:10.1136/bmjspcare-2018-ASPabstracts.146

Wells G, Mason L, Foreman E, Chambers J. Continuous subcutaneous levetiracetam in the management of seizures at the end of life: a case report. Age and Ageing. 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afv195