For more than 10 years patients from the region's busiest hospital have been helping medical students by taking part in structured patient teaching sessions and student clinical exams

And now the clinical skills resource team at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) are looking to recruit more patient volunteers.

As a large teaching hospital affiliated with the University of East Anglia (UEA), NNUH hosts around 800 medical students for clinical teaching each year. The patient teaching sessions have proved invaluable to students by giving them opportunities to learn from patients and shape their knowledge, skills and attitudes for their future careers.

Professor Lesley Bowker, clinical skills director said: 'The participation of our patients has been absolutely vital in supporting our students' learning, and we are so very grateful for their time. Recruiting patient volunteers is an ongoing project and we would love to involve more patients who can spare some time to help our doctors of the future.'

Professor Bowker added: 'To be involved, patients should have previous or ongoing care at NNUH but be currently reasonably well in themselves. Patients may then be asked to help either with student exams or teaching sessions. We are looking for people who have long-term, manageable conditions, particularly if they have stable clinical signs such as a heart murmur, joint problems, skin lumps or rashes.'

Anne Gotts has been taking part in the patient teaching sessions since September 2016, where she has spared a few hours each time to assist medical students at NNUH.

Ms Gotts, who is from Mulbarton, said she wanted to give something back to the NHS.

'I had a kidney transplant 37 years ago after being born with polycystic kidneys, so I have a lot to be grateful for. Participating in the patient teaching sessions is a form of saying 'thank you' to all those who have helped me,' she said.

'I find the sessions really interesting and knowing that I am helping the doctors of the future is a very good feeling. Everyone that I have met so far has been so lovely and very keen to learn. I would definitely recommend participating in patient teaching sessions to those people who are already a patient at the hospital.'

Teaching sessions are run by NNUH consultants and enable groups of students to watch and practice their patient consultations in a special environment away from the intensity of the hospital wards and clinics. This experience can bring the medical text books to life and is much more useful for the student than just reading about conditions.

Patient participation is voluntary and between one and six patients are required for each session.

Peter Chapman, NNUH director of medicine said: 'Teaching in real life environments like these is of significant value for our medical students. It allows our trainees to build on experience, and as a massive teaching hospital, I do hope many more patients come forward to assist our doctors of the future- we would be so grateful.'

If you are a patient at NNUH and would like to know more about student teaching please speak to your clinician or call Caroline Coombs, medical school administrator on 01603 286618 or email caroline.coombs@nnuh.nhs.uk