‘Managing the trainee in difficulty' is a task that can cause considerable anxiety for postgraduate medical educators.  But there are a few principles and some simple tools that can help.  These are covered on the Performance in Practice DVD that is now available via Synapse, the communications network for postgraduate medical education in London.  The DVD is a learning resource targeted at educational and clinical supervisors.  The content of this short interactive, video-based programme includes:

• recognising the trainee in difficulty
• common presentations
• diagnosis
• immediate management

To access the DVD click the following link to Synapse enter your Synapse email address and password.  From your Dashboard click on ‘London Deanery’, and then select ‘Faculty Development’ from the right hand list of links.  Once in the Faculty Development area of Synapse you will find the Performance in Practice DVD under the heading ‘Synapse only resources’.