This summer’s BIF course is being held on Wednesday 24th - Thursday 25th May at Engineer’s House in Clifton. 

https://ifcourse.org.uk/bristol-intensive-final-course

Cost is £395

Registration opens on 3rd April. 

SAVE THE DATE:  Thursday 28th February 2023

STAR Annual Conference 2023 - Severn Trainee Anaesthetic Research Network 

Where: Learning and Research Centre, North Bristol NHS Trust

For further details please see under 'Events' tab

The annual Educational Supervisors Update Day is taking place on 22nd March 2023 at HEE SW, Park House, Bristol for all Educational Supervisors within Severn.  To book a place, please do so via the Events tab.

Topics tbc

OneBrain - Monday 14th November 2022

Dear All,

We are planning to run our next OneBrain Course on Monday 14th November 2022 at the UHBW Simulation Centre.

This simulation-based course provides an overview of key issues in Neuroanaesthesia and is predominantly aimed at post-Primary CT2's and ST3/4. Reviewing core topics in Neuroanaesthesia, it would be of particular value to the trainee about to take the Final FRCA or who is about to start their Neuroanaesthetic / Neuro-ITU block at Southmead Hospital.

This course is endorsed by the College Tutors at Southmead Hospital.

At present OneBrain is subsidised by the Deanery and costs £63 for Severn Trainees and £246 for external candidates. Places on the course can be booked via the Bristol Simulation Centre website - One Brain | UHBW Simulation Centre (bmsc.co.uk).  

Please contact me if you have any questions about the course.

Best wishes,

Amit

Dr Amit Goswami

Consultant Anaesthetist

North Bristol NHS Trust

BristolQ - Final written revision course

BristolQ will be starting within the next few weeks, it is an onlineweekly revision session with practice CRQs for those preparing for the written final in September. If you are interesting in participating please email BristolQcourse@gmail.com with your name, phone number, current hospital and grade.

Also if anyone is interested in helping to run BristolQ please email too, its very rewarding and great for your CV!

Please see link for users of the Lifelong Learning Platform who wish to request a change of assigned curriculum.

If you are moving from a 2010 curriculum to a 2021 curriculum, you will need to have approval from any one of the following: Head of School, Training Programme Director, Regional Adviser or Deputy Regional Adviser. The RCoA may ask you to provide evidence of this approval (an email confirmation from one of the above).

Curriculum change form

This form will be processed in five to eight working days by the Lifelong Learning team.

Taking place on Friday 1st July 2022 & 27th January 2023.  For further details email - severnanaestheticsrtt@gmail.com

Taking placce on 13th June 2022.  Please see BMSC website for further details.

The next STAR conference is taking place on 22nd February 2022.  See newsletter for further information.

The one lung course is taking place on 21st & 22nd March 2022.  Please see newsletter for further information.

The CAT 3 Less than full-time training application window is open for trainees within the School.  Closing date 14th February 2022.  Please see email Julie Flowers if you have not received details via email.

Academic posts now open for applications, for further information please follow link 

Bristol Intensive Final Course (BIF) 4th and 5th November 2021

If you are planning to sit the Final FRCA Structured Oral Examinations in December 2021 and would like a place on the next BIF course please apply online at:

https://ifcourse.org.uk/bristol-intensive-final-course   Applications open on Monday the 13th of September 2021

You DO NOT need to have already passed the written to apply: a full refund will be issued for those who do not get through to the SOE.

Day One: viva practice on all core subjects, viva technique, anatomy teaching and clinical case presentation skill practice

Day Two: formal Basic Science and Clinical vivas. Candidates can expect up to 12 full vivas under exam conditions

The course usually runs at Engineers House in Bristol but has been run virtually for the past 2 courses, the format for this course will be confirmed at a later date.  There are only 12 places available and the last course had to turn Severn trainees away!! Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Virtual lunchtime teaching hosted by Gloucester.  All School Core trainees welcome.

Dates : 23rd August, 31st August, 6th September, 14th September, 20th September, 27th September, 4th October & 11th October.  Please email anaesthesia.sw@hee.nhs.uk for an MS teams link if you have not received one.

The Bath FICM Teaching Day has been rearranged to take place on 27th September and not 16th September as previously stated.

We are a group of like minded trainee’s and health care professionals with a shared passion for the environment and Sustainability in healthcare, our aims are;

1. Raise awareness of the impact healthcare is having on the environment. 

2. To reduce the negative impact healthcare is having on the environment. 

3. To promote and support high quality collaborative education, research and QI in the field.

If you are interested or would like to find out more please get in touch at s.e.a.s.network1@gmail.com or follow us @SEASN12 to keep up to date with what is going on. 

Thanks, S.E.A.S.N Team

www.seasn.co.uk

Please see this link for an update from the RCoA on the Lifelong Learning Platform Curriculum Transfer.

See RCoA website for curriculum implementation updates

The School is holding an evening webinar on the forthcoming ICM eportfolio change to Lifelong Learning Platform on 10th June 2021 at 7 pm (via zoom)  

Organisers - Cathy Challifour & Liz Williams.

If you have not received the zoom link, please email Julie Flowers, Education Programme Manager

Please see link below for further information from the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

Moving to the new curriculum

We are delighted to now be recruiting for THREE brilliant opportunities to join the STAR executive committee.  Please see attached flyer.  If you are interested, please send a few paragraphs about yourself and why you would be suited to the role to stargroupresearch@gmail.com by the 10^th May 2021. All anaesthesia or ICM trainees are eligible to apply, regardless of research experience.

STAR Committee Roles – applications now open

We are delighted to now be recruiting for THREE brilliant opportunities to join the STAR executive committee to replace trainees who have CCT’d. STAR is a nationally recognised research and QI group supported by the Bristol School of Anaesthesia and SASWR – the committee is very friendly and great fun to be a part of!

If you are interested, please send a few paragraphs about yourself and why you would be suited to the role to stargroupresearch@gmail.com by the 10^th May 2021. All anaesthesia or ICM trainees are eligible to apply, regardless of research experience, with previous involvement in leadership roles being desirable for the role of Chair.

Want more details on STAR or the positions available? Please feel free to drop an email to the address above or to Katie.samuel@nhs.net for an informal chat.

STAR Chair  *Leadership position – previous research experience desirable but not essential!*

-          Lead the STAR committee and organisation

-          Oversee all STAR work streams and projects

-          Chair STAR meetings

-          Represent STAR regionally and nationally

-          Attend RAFT national meetings

-          Previous leadership experience strongly encouraged

Anaesthesia Vice Chair

-          Represent STAR when the chair is unavailable

-          Oversee engagement of Anaesthesia trainees in the organisation

-          Contribute Anaesthesia focussed ideas and developments

-          Work closely with the Chair and ICM Vice Chair in steering the organisations activity

Events Lead

-          Lead on organising all STAR events

-          Coordinate speakers and venue for the STAR annual congress

-          Lead STAR’s contribution to SASWR conferences

-          Work closely with the STAR committee in general duties and projects

For updated information on Out of Programme (OOPP)

For further information please see Faculty website 

A couple of opportunities have arisen for the following roles –

ICM Trainee Representative                                    

ICM Eportfolio Trainee Representative(s)             

Please email Julie Flowers if you are interested in either role.

Taking place on Wednesday 3rd February at 6 pm.

Please see event tab for further details.

Congratulations you are pregnant! However sorting our maternity leave arrangements can be a daunting prospect. It is hard to know where to start finding the information you need and there is much more to think about that you would expect.

The guide gives you some advice and information on how to manage your maternity leave as a trainee.

WORKING WHILE PREGNANT

Who do I need to tell?

Officially you are obliged to inform your employer of your intention to take maternity leave by the end of the 25th week of pregnancy. However, the laws that protect you in pregnancy only apply once your employer knows.

Practically is it advisable to inform your employer prior to this date but who you decide to inform and when is an individual decision.

- Departmental Manager: the manager should then arrange for a Health and Safety Risk Assessment to take place (on HR webpage). If any staff member is unable to carry out all or part of their duties whilst pregnant (due to risk to their or unborn child’s health) alternative work is arranged with no loss of pay.

- Training Programme Director – advise your TPD about intentions for maternity leave as it may directly affect where you are going to rotate over the next few months. You may also want to work LTFT on your return.

- Educational Supervisor – before you start maternity leave you must have a “Pre-Absence Meeting” (needs to be sent to College Tutor and Programme Director) to discuss keeping up to date, KIT days and any other concerns.

- HR – obtain maternity guidance information for your Trust early in pregnancy (via Trust website)

Full information: SevernACCS.SW@hee.nhs.uk 

- NHS Health at Work: Shift Work & Manual Handling in Pregnancy

Dr C Abeysekera, ST4 Anaesthetics Severn Deanery, Dr Christina Laxton, Consultant Anaesthetist North Bristol Trust, December 2020

Unfortunately the Haematology Final FRCA Teaching on 28th January 2021 has been postponed and will take place later this year.

The FICM Teaching Day due to take place on 9th February 2021 has been postponed and will take place at a later date.

Please follow link for ICU COVID information documents

Due to COVID pressures the primary teaching days on 22nd January 2021 and 11th February 2021  have been postponed.

These teaching days will be rescheduled for Spring/Summer.

Unfortunately the FICM Teaching Day on 7th January 2021 has been cancelled and will be rescheduled to take place at a later date.

The NBT Crammer Course is going ahead in a new on-line format in January 2021.  Please register your interest via the Crammer website  Further details and confirmed dates will be available soon.

Unfortunately the Final FRCA & FICM Teaching Day due to take place has been postponed and will take place on another date.

The School are aware that there has been a lot of uncertainty over the last few months due to Covid disrupting training, recruitment, exams and the delayed introduction of the transition to the 2020 Curriculum. On this basis, a virtual Q and A session for Core trainees and ACCS Anaesthetic trainees has been planned for Monday 19th October 6pm via Zoom.

Tom Simpson (Head of School Anaesthesia), Jo Kerr (Head of School ACCS) and Judith Stedeford (Core Training Programme Director) will be there to  answer your questions on any of the issues currently facing Core/ACCS Anaes trainees. This will also be your opportunity to find out what the School plans for the 2020 Curriculum are and how we plan to accommodate you in top up posts or CT4 posts. 

Please sign up via the Events page. Once you have signed up, you will be sent a link to access the Zoom meeting.

Please see the training section on the Royal College of Anaesthetists website for further ARCP guidance.

https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/training-careers

The School will shortly be holding some evening trainee Q&A sessions with Tom Simpson. Head of School and School TPDs.  Further details to follow.

Where possible the School of Anaesthesia & ICM will be scheduling the summer ARCPs in the usual way.  We will be contacting you over the next 2 weeks with your confirmed ARCP date, if we have not already done so.  There will be no face-to-face meetings and less evidence required including no MSF.  Further details will be forwarded in due course.

Dear Colleague

As we prepare for the impact of COVID 19 a number of queries have come to us with regards to HEE’s approach to study leave. Please be advised that the position is as follows:

Impact of Coronavirus On Study Leave for Doctors in Training

Trainees should endeavour to obtain a refund for any pre-booked expenses. If they unable to do so we will honour the claim, but they should provide evidence when they submit their claim that the expense was non-refundable.

All requests for study leave time not taken during the outbreak will be properly considered by the employers and Postgraduate deans and will be subject to the need to maintain NHS services, and training requirements for completion of programmes.

We are asking all parties to be flexible both during and after this difficult time.

HEE will be developing a set of FAQs to help manage the queries that are arising.

If there are unresolved queries please contact us via Study Leave (SW); StudyLeave.SW@hee.nhs.uk for our Postgraduate Dean to review.

All Primary, Final, PFSD Teaching Days have been postponed until further notice. 

The FICM Teaching Day has been cancelled and will take place at a later date.  Apologies for any inconvenience.

Unfortunately, the Primary Teaching Day due to take place on 20th March has been cancelled.

The Educational Supervisors Update Day due to take place on Monday 23rd March has been postponed and will take place later in the year.

Please note the Primary OSCE/SOE Practice day at NBT is now taking place on 7th May and not 8th May as previously stated.

This course is aimed at ST5+ trainees in the Bristol School.  Topics to include Defining the role & expectations of Educational Supervisors in the School, Educational Appraisal Tools, Skills practice, supporting trainees in difficulty.

To book a place please do so via the Events tab.

Unfortunately the Primary OSCE/SOE Practice day at NBT has been cancelled and will now take place on Tuesday 21st January in the Clinical Skills  Laboratory, Learning & Research Building, Southmead Hospital.

Time table for Regional Primary Teaching

Core / ACCS Trainees in Anaesthesia 2020

Mock Primary OSCE/SOE exam practice days at NBT: Must be booked. Open to those about to sit the OSCE/ vivas only.

OSCE / Viva & Primary MCQs: exam dates.

Novice Anaesthesia Course: for new starters only.

Primary FRCA MCQ/SBA Course

Monday-Friday-27th-31st January 2020

This MCQ/SBA Course has been designed to help anaesthetists pass the written section of the Primary FRCA.

The course runs for 5 days and offers intensive MCQ/SBA preparation. Candidates will sit multiple question papers each day under exam conditions and through peer discussion, identify and improve the gaps in their knowledge.

The course is offered roughly one month before each sitting of the written section of the Primary FRCA, and is designed to complement the latter stages of a candidate’s preparation for the exam.

The course fee is £395 

Application forms are available. Please go to the website http://gsttprimaryfrca.wordpress.com/

Please send completed application forms (with an enclosed cheque) to the course administrator at:

FRCA Course Administrator, Anaesthetic Department, St Thomas’ Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH.

If you would like to pay via bank transfer, please send an email requesting information to verline.forrest@gstt.nhs.uk.

Many thanks

Verline

Trainees may be aware that there is a large project to re-write the anaesthetic curriculum in line with new GMC standards that were published in May 2017.

The proposed new curriculum will include three years core training (four years for ACCS) then four years for higher specialty training. The total indicative duration of the anaesthetic training programme will remain at seven years. There will be three ‘stages’ of training representing three/two/two years (Stage 1 = CT1-CT3 / Stage 2 = ST4-ST5 / Stage 3 = ST6/ST7).

For further information and updates please see

https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/news-and-bulletin/rcoa-news-and-statements/curriculum-review-anaesthetic-cct-curriculum-2020-update

Please follow the link for an animation providing a short & simple guide for trainees and trainers on how the ARCP process works.

https://specialtytraining.hee.nhs.uk/arcp

f you are interested in a career in ACCS (including Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care, Acute Medicine and Anaesthetics) and/or training in Core Anaesthetics then you are warmly invited to attend this open evening on 13th November 2019 from 5.15 - 7 pm at HEE SW HQ, Park House, Bristol.

The evening is an excellent opportunity to learn about the core training routes available to you and help you prepare for submitting applications and attending interviews.

The evening is an informal affair with opportunity to ask lots of questions.

If you are considering applying for ACCS or Core Anaesthetics, now or in the future, we’d love to see you.

To book a place please do so via the Events tab.

Layth Tameem, founder of the regional wellbeing initiative WARD, was awarded first prize at the HEE 2019 HEAT Awards on 18th July 2019.  He won first prize in the Inspiring Trainee/Student educator award.  It was very well deserved and the School are very proud of him.

The FICM (Cardiac)  Teaching Day is taking place on 18th June 2019 at BRI.  Please book a place via  the Events tab.

New Regional Pain Training Dates released - 

Tuesday 24th September 2019

Wednesday 16^th October

Wednesday 13^th November

Thursday 30^th January 2020

Friday 21^st February

Friday 27^th March

Monday 11^th May

Wednesday 8^th July

Further details will appear on this website in due course.

Unfortunately, the Primary FRCA Teaching Day on 17^th May at Royal United Hospital, Bath has had to be cancelled and will now take place on Thrusday 13th June 2019. 

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

If you are attending your ARCP during the summer and are unsure if you should be using the RCoA Lifelong Learning Platform or the eportfolio system, please email Julie Flowers.  For further information and guidance on using the system, please see the LLP guidance on the RCoA website or contact Tom Woodward or Gen O'Farrell, Bristol School LLP Champions.

Please note the PFSD on the 27th March at Cheltenham is 10AM-4PM not 08.30 as advertised in the school newsletter.

The FICM Teaching Day due to take place on 19th March has been cancelled and will take place at a later date.

The date of the Cheltenham Primary Teaching Day has changed from 12th April to 26th April due to the Easter break.

The Haematology Final FRCA Teaching Day has been cancelled and will take place in April (date to be advised).

The Annual School Christmas Celebration Evening will take place on Thursday 13th December 2018 in the MShed from 7 pm until late.  All welcome - trainees/fellows/Consultants for tickets please email Katie - katie.e.foy@gmail.com or Emma - emmajoynes@doctors.org.uk

If you are interested in a career in ACCS (including Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care, Acute Medicine and Anaesthetics) and/or training in Core Anaesthetics then you are warmly invited to attend this open evening on Thursday 15th November 2019 at 5.15 pm in the L&R Building, Southmead Hospital, Bristol.

The evening is an excellent opportunity to learn about the training routes available to you and help you prepare for submitting applications and attending interviews.

The evening is an informal affair with opportunity to ask lots of questions.

If you are considering applying for ACCS or Core Anaesthetics, now or in the future, we’d love to see you.  Please book a place via the Events tab.

The Final FRCA Training Day (topic Statistics & Clinical Trials) due to take place on 11th December is now taking place on 29^th November 2018

 Venue - Anaesthetic Library – Level 7 Bristol Royal Infirmary

The PFSD & FICM Teaching days have now been merged and will take place on 18th September 2018.

The next School social event is a summer pool party and BBQ!!  

Date           30th June 2018

Venue         tba

More details to follow.

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel the PFSD at Bath on 23rd May 2018 and this will be rearranged to take place at a later date.

This event is taking place on 9th May 2018 as a training event for the RCoA Lifelong Learning Platform and is aimed at Severn TPDs, College Tutors, Educational Supervisors & Clinical supervisors in Anaesthesia.  The training will take place from 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm at Severn PGME HQ, Vantage Office Park, Hambrook, Bristol.  To book a place please do so via the events section.

The Severn School of Anaesthesia are holding an open evening for 2018 recruitment to ST3 level posts.

This event will take place on Tuesday 6th February 2018 at Severn PGME HQ, Deanery House, Vantage Office Park, Hambrook, Bristol.

If you are interested in applying to Severn for the August 2018 cohort, or for some time in the future, you are welcome to attend.

Please arrive from 5.00pm for a prompt start at 5.30pm.  

If you would like to attend this event, please register via the events tab.

Please see Recruitment tab for further details.

The Head of School of Anaesthesia post has now been advertised on NHS jobs, with a closing date of 6th December 2017.

For further information

National recruitment into subspecialty training posts in Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) for posts commencing August 2018 or February 2019 opens to applications on 13 October 2017.

These posts are in approved training programmes around the UK. Further information on what you can expect during training, the national person specification and approved training programmes is available at www.ibtphem.org.uk

Closing date: 27 October 2017. Applicants must have permission from their local Training Programme for the duration of their sub-specialty training.

The Bristol School of Anaesthesia & ICM will be holding its School Induction on Thursday 7th September 2017 at UHBristol Education Centre commencing at 5 pm (tea and coffee available from 4.30 pm)

This year the Royal College of Anaesthetists will celebrate 25 years since gaining its Royal Charter.  As part of the celebrations, they are planning a year-long programme of events and activities that will celebrate the achievements of the College; its history and role in the development of the specialty and our vision for the specialty for the next 25 years.  Full details about the 25th Anniversary celebrations can be found on their website.

SASWR Meeting being held on 25th & 26th May 2017 at Cheltenham Race Course, further details on their website - www.saswr.org

For those who are planning on sitting the Final SAQ/SBA/MCQ in March this year Sarah Heikal and David Radley are going to run the Bristol Q course. This is a course of around 8 sessions which allow you to practice answering questions for the short answer paper, and has received good feedback from trainees in the past.

8 sessions -

Thursday 19th January (6 pm) - Intro & 4 questions

Monday 23rd January (6 pm) - 4 questions

Monday 30th January (6 pm) - 6 questions

Monday 6th February (6 pm) - 6 questions

Thursday 9th February (6 pm) - 8 questions

Thursday 16th February (6 pm) - 10 questions

Wednesday 22nd February (6 pm) - Consultant session (Dr Phoebe Syme)

Wednesday 1st March (5.30 pm) - mock exam (12 questions)

The RCoA is giving trainees from each School the opportunity to nominate 2-3 local trainers for an award as a part of the 25th Year Anniversary in 2017. please see School newsletter for further information or email Tom Barrett, Specialty Trainee Representative  

The School Induction is taking place on Wednesday 14th September 2016 at 5 pm followed by drinks at Colston Yard at 6.30 pm.

Change of date – the Primary Teaching Day at Yeovil District Hospital is now taking place on 7^th October and NOT 23^rd September.

Cancelled – the Primary Teaching Day at Weston General Hospital on 14^th October.

One Brain Course - Neuroanaesthesia Simulation Course is taking place on Monday 31st October 2016, Bristol Medical Simulation Centre (opposite BRI) Suitable for all trainees, especially those about to start their neuro attachment and those sitting the final FRCA exam soon. Book a place through the website for the Simulation centre http://www.bmsc.co.uk/course/one-brain/

To all School trainees intending to sit the final written paper of the FRCA in September,

We would like to invite you to come along to the first Bristol Q session on Monday 18th July in the BRI anaesthetic department running from 6pm to about 8pm.  The Sessions run over 8 weeks, and generally get great feedback - its a fantastic way to both improve your knowledge, get used to the format of the exam and meet other people who are going through the same pain as you!

The format for the first session will be an introduction to the course and probably four practise questions, followed by an opportunity to look through some answer sheets.

Unfortunately, the PFSD due to take place on 29th June 2016 has been cancelled.

There have been some cancellations and changes to the next couple of PFSDs as follows -

6th April (Cheltenham) - cancelled

27th April (Swindon) - cancelled, now being held on 8th June

25th May (Bath) - rearranged to take place on 18th May

The Cheltenham Postfellowship Study Day due to take place on Wednesday 30th March and then Wednesday 6th April has been cancelled.  The day will take place later in the year.

This teaching has been cancelled, but will be rearranged for a date in January.  Further details to follow.

The Joint Peninsula & Severn ICM STC Meeting due to be held on 1st December, has been cancelled and rearranged to take place on 9th February 2016 at Taunton & Pickeridge Golf Club

Applications are invited for the above NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Academic Clinical Fellow post.  There is one position at entry level CT1, CT2 or ST3.

Applications for this post will be via the "Oriel Application Portal" - See further details under Recruitment.

PHEM posts have now been advertised, please see NHS Jobs website and Health Education East website.

Date : 22nd December 2015

Time : 7 pm for 8 pm

Venue : Clifton Lido

Bookings are already being taken for the social event of the year - the trainees Christmas Dinner!  Black Tie!  Cost is £35.

Please note that in order that all trainees who wish to come can do so bookings are currently open to those in the School of Anaesthesia & ICM only.  Partners are very much welcome (and encouraged!) and we will open bookings to them in about three weeks so trainees do book now - last year it was sold out...

To reserve a place please e-mail Dr Ben Gupta for bank transfer details, Alex Loosley & Ben Gupta, Social Representatives

Venue : Racks, Clifton

Time : 7.30 pm

Date : 9th October 2015

Calling all trainees new and old! Come and meet the new folks and/or catch up with friends who have been hiding in the shires over a drink. Come along at 7:30 pm for relaxed drinks with good pub grub if you fancy it...
Hope to see as many of you there as possible.

This Edgecumbe-run Educational Supervisors Course is being held for senior trainees within the School.  To book a place, please do so via the Events section of this website.

This is an update day for all College Tutors, Faculty Tutors and Educational Supervisors Day in the School.  It is taking place on Tuesday 8th March at Engineers House, to book a place please email Julie Flowers.

If you are interested in a career in Anaesthesia (Core) or Anaesthesia ACCS (including Intensive Care, Acute Medicine and Emergency Medicine), then you are invited to attend this open evening.

Date: 11th November 2015

Arrival Time: 17:30

Meeting Start: 18:00

End: 20:00

If you wish to attend please register via the Events section of this website

The School is holding an ST3 Recruitment Open Evening on Tuesday 1st September for posts being advertised on 11th August, please see Events section for further details.

Unfortunately, the Primary teaching day due to be held at Swindon on 5th June has had to be cancelled and will be rearranged for a later date.

NEW SOCIAL EVENTS for 2015* Get them in your diaries!

Saturday 20th June - Canoe the River Wye – Bookings required ASAP!!

Please email Alex or Ben, your social reps, asap to reserve a place.  Cost is £20/person (excluding lunch) and all equipment is included.  Book now to avoid disappointment as PLACES ARE LIMITED! 

Sunday 30th August 2015 – School Summer BBQ

Come and enjoy the School Summer BBQ.  Eat, drink, mingle.  Summer games on offer.  More details to follow!

For all Primary, Final, FICM & Postfellowship Teaching Days, please either book a place via the Events section of the School website or email apologies to Julie Flowers, School Manager.

Dear Severn Trainee

As you will be aware we have been operating a mixed model of study leave within Severn Deanery for 2014/5 with some trusts (UHB and NBT) being responsible for study leave and Severn PGME managing it behalf of other Trusts.

We have reviewed the management of study leave with Trusts going forward for the financial year 2015/6. It has been agreed that from 1^st April 2015 the management of study leave will become the responsibility of Trusts as a key part of their management of the MADEL tariff. From April 1^st 2015 you should therefore apply directly to the Trust where you are working for study leave.

There has been a substantial amount of work undertaken in Severn PGME to develop strong and innovative regional teaching programmes, and there is a desire by all parties to continue this. We will be finalising the details of this over the next month.

The exception to this will be then Partnership Trusts, who have indicated that they wish to continue the current arrangements, whereby Severn PGME will manage the study leave on their behalf. All trainees in psychiatry should therefore continue to follow the current arrangements.

We are formally reviewing the arrangements for foundation and general practice in the next two weeks, but anticipate that these will remain broadly as now at the current time.

Please contact the  Medical Education Managers in your trust to get details of how to apply for study leave from April 1^st 2015.

Yours sincerely

Professor Selena Gray MBChB, MD, FFPH, FRCP
Deputy Postgraduate Dean

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are looking to appoint two medical trainee members to our Curriculum and Assessment Group (CAG) within our Education & Standards Directorate at the GMC. The vacancies have arisen as a result of two current trainees gaining their Certificates of Completion of Training and moving to become medical members of the CAG.

The purpose of the CAG is to scrutinise changes to specialty and subspecialty curricula and assessment systems evaluating them against the GMC’s curriculum standards.

We are looking for trainee members who have experience in one or all of the following areas; medical education, curriculum development, assessment expertise and psychometrics.

More information can be found on the Education news section of the GMC website. It includes more information on the role of the CAG, the trainee member specification and the application process.

To apply for the role, please click here. We welcome applications from doctors in training. Please feel free to forward this email to anyone suitable.

If you have any questions on any aspect of this email please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards,

Neil Grant, Associate Services Advisor, General Medical Council, Regents Place, 350 Euston Road, London, NW1 3JN Tel: 020 7189 5336 

Severn Postgraduate Medical Education has created a new film concerning sustainable working practices across the region.
We encourage everyone involved with postgraduate medical education to take a look because it contains ideas and information about how we as an organisation can reduce our carbon footprint to meet national targets.

Sustainability Short Film

We hope that you enjoy it…

The Academy Trainee Doctors' Group has produced 'A Charter for Postgraduate Medical Training' on behalf of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. This Charter describes a set of guiding principles to ensure the highest standard of doctors’ training and quality of care. It also makes specific recommendations for commitments based on these principles which emphasise training priorities while recognising the responsibilities of doctors in training.

AOMRC Doctors in training

 The Charter was written in consultation with stakeholders including the medical royal colleges and faculties, the General Medical Council and the Shape of Training Expert Advisory Group. Professor David Greenaway’s report ‘Securing the future of excellent patient care: Final report of the independent review’ highlighted the Charter and its potential to help with the challenges of delivering both training and service. The Charter was published in full as an annex to this report.
We are currently sending the Charter to all groups involved in medical training and to doctors in training via Trainee representatives. You may well be contacted in this regard and we are expecting doctors in training to have further ideas on how to disseminate the charter (for example, by including it in induction or welcome packs).
We believe the Charter has the potential to provide an excellent foundation for delivering training and high quality care and I hope you will share our enthusiasm for this work.

Due to the RTIC Training Day being held on 17th July 2014, the FICM Teaching Day on 15th July has been postponed.

FAO all trainees in HESW Severn

With effect from the 1st April 2014 trainees based in either University Hospitals Bristol Trust or North Bristol NHS Trust will apply for study leave through the Intrepid online system as usual but approval will now be undertaken via the medical education department in your post graduate centre. You will also claim expenses for approved study leave through the medical education department and they will be in touch with regards to the process for claiming your expenses in due course.

All other trainees will continue to access study leave funding via Health Education SW as in previous years. ALL trainees (including those at NBT and UHBT) should continue to log your application for study leave via the online Intrepid system.

Your head of school will be in contact shortly regarding your budget allocation for 2014/15.

The 2014 GMC Trainee survey is now live until the 8th May.

It can be accessed through the GMC website. 

Please log in and complete the survey.

Thank you!

Update for prospective ST3 applicants

From looking at the West Midlands deanery website there may be some potential confusion. I have been speaking with the West Midlands deanery and would like to clarify some issues around the "clustering" of our interviews with the Peninsula school.

1)  Number of Jobs - As things stand today there are 13 ST3 posts for August in Severn and 11 in the Peninsula deanery
2)  Units of application - The South West is a single unit of application and at the time of initial application is the only preferencing possible
3)  Preferencing between Severn and Peninsula - Once the application window has passed and all the applications have been long listed (i.e. ensure they meet all the essential criteria of the job application) then candidates will be asked to preference posts within their unit of application. This is because a different computer system is being utilised to control the national offers process. Within the South West you will be able to prioritise which School of Anaesthesia you would prefer, you will also be given the option to not accept a post from one of the individual schools.
4)  The interviews will be held at the Severn PGME and all applicants who have applied to the South West Unit of Application will be interviewed.
5)  Offers will then be made according to rank, a minimum score of 110 out of 200 will be required to be eligible to receive an offer.  There will be 3 mandatory stations and one local simulation station.
6)  Clearing will be available to applicants who were deemed appointable at interview but who have not been made an offer, it will not include canddidates who have been made an offer that they chose to decline.

I hope this clarifies any concerns regarding the offers process but I am very happy to talk directly to any individuals who have concerns.

Tom Simpson
TPD Anaesthesia ST programme Severn

Dear post-FRCA Registrars,

I am organising a PFSD in conjunction with the Royal Air Force to be held at RAF Brize Norton on Friday 11th April 2014. This replaces the PFSD date in March for Frenchay. Subsequent PFSD dates are likely to also move as a result of the date change. I realise that for LTFT trainees the Friday might be a problem but unfortunately I can't change the date. Hopefully by providing the date a few months in advance this may help.

The topics will include clinical advances and lessons learnt during 10 years in Helmand, the Aeromedical Transfer pathway, MERT (Medical Emergency Response Team) CCAST (Critical Care Air Support Team) plus other subjects. It should be an interesting day and something different for us to attend. Further information will become available nearer the date.

Best wishes,

Dr Edward Scarth, Post-CCT Clinical Fellow in Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine, Frenchay Hospital

BMedSci BMBS MRCP(UK) MRCP(Lond) FRCA EDIC FFICM

There is an ST3 Recruitment Open Evening for Anaesthesia and ICM posts on Tuesday 25th February 2014 at 5 pm in UHBristol Education Centre (opposite Bristol Royal Infirmary).  To book a place please follow the link on the events page of the School of Anaesthesia website.

Applications are now open for the National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellow Scheme, sponsored by Sir Bruce Keogh and managed by the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management.

The scheme offers doctors in training an outstanding and unique opportunity to develop leadership and management skills in a range of national healthcare organisations which have previously included NHS England, Health Education England, GMC, NICE, Public Health England, Royal Colleges, St Andrews Healthcare, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Association of British Healthcare Industries, BMJ and BUPA.  Host organisations for 2014-15 have yet to be finalised. This work is complemented by the peer support offered by being in a cohort of trainees.

Clinical Fellows have the chance to work alongside influential leaders and meet key players in healthcare from the NHS and beyond. The scheme has complemented clinical practice with careers in medical management, clinical leadership, public health and policy. The posts are paid a clinical salary with banding as some work activities may occur outside normal working hours.

This year there will continue to be placements across England, including a number of opportunities in the North of England. For more information please visit: www.fmlm.ac.uk/clinical-fellow-scheme

Applications close on 14 February 2014 and will be followed by a shortlisting process. Interviews are expected to take place in London on 10 and 11 March 2014.

From the BristolQ Team:

For those of you intending to sit the Final FRCA written exam in March next year, we have now set the dates for the BristolQ sessions leading up to the exam. These give the opportunity to practise short answer questions in exam conditions and are a brilliant way of targeting your revision! Completely free to Severn trainees (if you write a question for our database...).

Dates:

January 15th

January 22nd

February 5th

February 12th

February 19th

February 26th

March 5th

March 11th - EXAM!

(No BristolQ 29th January - Crammer Course)

Please contact us on bristolq@hotmail.co.uk as soon as possible to register your interest. More details of the sessions will be sent out nearer the dates.

Anna, Helen and Kate, BristolQ Team

Developing people for health and healthcare

Specialty Selection Test (SST) pilot for CT1/ST1 Applicants

Health Education England (HEE) and the devolved nations are piloting a Specialty Selection Test (SST) as part of a wider programme (MDRS) to improve medical and dental recruitment and selection across the UK. We’re working with the Work Psychology Group, academics in the University College of London Medical

School and specialty leads to pilot the SST.

Participate and be in with a chance to win some fantastic prizes, including an iPad or Kindle!

The pilot will take place across a number of different medical specialties in the UK and includes a Clinical Problem Solving Test (CPS) and a Situational Judgement Test (SJT).

Participating is simple and will only require a few hours of your time.

What is the purpose of the pilot?

The purpose of this pilot is to evaluate whether these tests enhance the current methods of selection used for ST1/CT1 level recruitment. We will also continue to follow applicant progression for a number of years, to ensure a long-term robust evaluation.

Test results will not form part of the selection process, they will be anonymised and will not impact on your fitness to practise.

Ultimately, we are assessing whether the SST is a good predictor of a doctor’s performance throughout their training and aiming to ensure the selection process is reliable, valid, fair and cost-effective.

Why should I participate?

By participating in the SST pilot you will receive feedback on how well you performed in the national cohort and you will also be eligible to win one of five prizes. First prize is a 32GB iPad, second prize is a 32GB kindle fire HD, third prize is a kindle plus paperwhite, fourth prize is a kindle paperwhite and fifth prize is a kindle.

This pilot aims to improve the way doctors are selected in the future and this is your chance to give your views on this selection process and make your voice heard! Tell us your views on this method of selection and how valuable you found the test. Our main aim is to further improve the selection process by ensuring that it is fair, valid, just

and reliable.

How can I participate?

If you are eligible, you’ll receive an email invitation in December 2013 to take part in the Specialty Selection Test. The test will be delivered online between 13-25 January 2014 through Pearson VUE test centres. You will be asked to choose a time-slot and a venue from one of many Pearson VUE test centres across the UK and will need to book your

slot no later than 21 December 2013. The test centres are located within close proximity to hospitals across the UK and are available on Saturdays and after hours.

How will the test work?

The test itself will consist of a two hour and fifteen minute online test. It will be completely computer based and the questions will be developed by leading specialists according to specialty person specifications and foundation programme curriculum. If you are already doing the GP test or if you have applied to Broad Based Training, you will not be asked to do the additional test. If you are

applying to a number of different specialities you will only be required to sit the test once.

Why is a selection test being piloted across multiple specialties?

The pilot of the SST is designed to be broad-based due to the nature of the overlap of person specifications required by all specialties. A good example of this is the fact that all specialties require trained doctors not just to be clinically competent, but also empathic and sensitive with patients and colleagues, to behave with professional integrity, and to have the ability to prioritise and cope well under pressure and work effectively in a team. All doctors who have undertaken Foundation will be familiar with the Foundation Curriculum by which these skills, values and behaviours are embedded.

The SST does not seek to replace individual specialty specifications. Each speciality will still have its own speciality specific elements within the selection process.

Where can I go to find more information?

More information, including an applicant guide, is available on the Specialty Training website: www.specialtytraining.nhs.uk or you can email us at hee.mdrs@nhs.net if you have any questions about the SST pilot.

Pilot Timeline

Apply to ST1/CT1 Training (12 November-5 December 2013)

Receive an email invitation to sit the test (11 December 2013)

Book your slot and preferred Pearson VUE test centre (11-21 December 2013)

Participate in the SST pilot (13-25 January 2014)

www.specialtytraining.nhs.uk

We are very pleased and proud to announce that the Severn Postgraduate Medical Education Developing Innovative Practice document is now launched.

It has been created to showcase the excellent work across Severn and its postgraduate schools. We invite you to have a look at the ground-breaking and innovative work which we do.

Severn Postgraduate Medical Education has developed seven Core Values, which guide everything that we do and provides the framework for this document.

Please feel free to contact any of the staff responsible for this work, as we are always keen to network and share best practice.

Copies of the document may be obtained from Severn Postgraduate Medical Education or for convenience a pdf version is available to download.

The School is holding a Christmas social drinks evening on 4th December 2013 from 5 pm onwards at a venue to be confirmed!  Further details will appear here in due course.

The Postgraduate Dean of Severn Postgraduate Medical Education, Professor Davinder Sandhu, has been awarded the Bruce Medal in recognition of the contribution he has made to the advancement of surgical education.

The Bruce Medal was established by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1966 in memory of a former President, the late Sir John Bruce. It is awarded from time to time to a Fellow of the College to recognise a major contribution to surgical knowledge or teaching.

Professor Davinder Sandhu (left) receives the Bruce Medal

Professor Sandhu received the award at a ceremony at the Edinburgh College on Friday 06 September 2013.

Commenting on receiving the honour, he said:

"I feel hugely honoured and humbled by this award. The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is a leading College with a particular focus on surgical education and training, and to receive the Bruce Medal is the pinnacle of my career and I am absolutely delighted to receive it."

Professor Robert Woodwards from the College’s Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Specialty Group said:

"Professor Sandhu has been Lead Dean for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for the last four years, as well as Lead Dean for the interface specialties. In these roles, he has been greatly involved in development of a new curriculum for the specialty, which has now had GMC approval, and has also guided the development and implementation of central recruitment to the specialty."

"He has also provided great support in the development of the interface specialties (cleft lip and palate; head and neck cancer care; cosmetic and reconstructive surgery and trauma) and has fought for funding and grants in these Fellowships to allow expanded training opportunities."

"He continues to contribute to postgraduate education nationally and internationally; has published over 40 original papers and is editor and reviewer of several journals."

"For many years Professor Sandhu has worked tirelessly to improve standards in medical education, and through that, patient care. I commend him as a worthy recipient of this honour.”

Notes to editors:

• Professor Davinder Sandhu MD, FRCS (Ed.Urol), FRCS (Eng & Glas), Cert.Med.Ed., FRCPE has been Postgraduate Dean of Severn Postgraduate Medical Education (formerly Severn Deanery) for 8 years and was previously a Consultant Urological Surgeon in Leicester for 13 years.
  He represents the Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans (COPMeD) at the Joint Medical Consultative Council (JMCC) and is the South West Regional Surgical Advisor for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He is Chair of the Association of Medical Education Europe Postgraduate Committee.
• Severn Postgraduate Medical Education is part of Health Education South West which is a new organisation responsible for the planning, development, education and training of the healthcare and public health workforce in the region.
  More information at Health Education South West website
• Established in 1505 and with a worldwide membership, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is one of the world’s oldest and largest surgical establishments dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical and dental practice, through its activities in education, training and examinations. For more information go to The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh website 
• For interviews with Professor Sandhu please contact Jonathan Cramp, Communications Manager, Health Education South West on 01823 361125.

 

From August 2014 the advanced paediatric anaesthetic training posts we offer will be re-structured.  The posts will be available to those in ST5 and above (with preference given to those in ST6 and ST7).  All Bristol School trainees at ST3 and above should already have received detailed information regarding this, if not please email Julie Flowers, Manager Severn Postgraduate School of Anaesthesia & ICM.

If you are a Bristol School trainee and would like further information, please email Judith Nolan, Educational Supervisor for Paediatric Anaesthesia. The Deadline date is 30th August 2013.

To mark the National Health Service’s 65th birthday, Health Education England has created an infographic highlighting some key milestones in training, education and workforce development over the past 65 years.

For more details and to download it, please visit the Health Education England website

Sent on behalf of Agents for Change.  This is an initiative to encourage trainees to improve the National Health Service. It is a collaboration between NHS England and BMJ, but many others contribute to its success.

Join us at BMA House on Friday 28 June for Agents for Change 2013 -​ the only national conference for junior doctors on improving patient safety and the quality of healthcare.

This year's theme is Speak, Act, Lead. We have exciting workshops, inspiring speeches, an online programme and a way to publish your own project - for you to become an Agent for Change. It is aimed at junior doctors to help them do quality improvement in their own workplaces. Robert Francis, Sir Bruce Keogh and Fiona Godlee will be among the speakers.

Applications are invited for advanced posts in Intensive Care Medicine, which are available within the Severn Deanery and Peninsula Deanery they give 1-2 years training to achieve CCT in Intensive Care Medicine.

In Severn Deanery there will be 4 vacancies in the joint ICM programee to commence from October 2014 onwards.

In Peninsula Deanery there will be 2 vacancies, 1 to commence in February 2014 and the second in February 2015. There may also be the possibility of further vacancies at other dates in the future.

Please see Severn Deanery website for further details.

National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellow Scheme – open to doctors in training

Applications are now open for the National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellow Scheme. The scheme is an exciting and unique opportunity for doctors in training to gain skills in leadership, management and health policy. Participants spend a year full time, learning by doing, in an extensive range of host organisations, including NICE, NHS Commissioning Board, GMC, BUPA and Medical Royal Colleges. Based on the current fellows’ experiences, the broad portfolio of potential work ranges from organising ministerial seminars to coordinating the national viral outbreak response strategy. This work is complemented by extensive training opportunities and the peer support offered by being part of a cohort with other junior doctors. Clinical Fellows have the chance to work alongside influential leaders and meet key players in healthcare from the NHS and beyond. The scheme has acted as a launch-pad for further careers in medical management, clinical leadership, public health and policy. Secondment ensures that existing terms and conditions are maintained and the posts are paid a clinical salary with banding. This year there will be placements across England, including a number of opportunities in the north of the country. For more information please visit:

www.fmlm.ac.uk/clinical-fellow-scheme

Applications close on 24 May 2013 and will be followed by a shortlisting process, with interviews on 4 June 2013.

With the reorganisation of the NHS that happened at the start of April 2013, Medical Training has become the responsibility of Health Education England (HEE). Regionally, HEE is represented by Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs).

We have one LETB in the South West, Health Education South West (HESW) and the Severn and South West Peninsula Deaneries are part of this new structure.

At the moment the GMC would like Health Education South West to be the designated body for Revalidation for trainees, taking over this function for both Deaneries.

Each Postgraduate Dean, Professor Davinder Sandhu and Professor Martin Beaman, will alternate in the role of Responsible Officer, and Martin Beaman will be in this role first.

Despite this apparent change in the organisation of the Revalidation Process, Severn Trainees will continue to be managed byt the Severn Deanery and the Severn Revalidation Team, and likewise in the Peninsula.

Queries may be received by either Deanery but will be diverted if appropriate.

The national training survey 2013: what do you think about your training?

The annual national training survey launches on the 26 March 2013. As a doctor in training, this is your chance to have your say on the training you receive.

The survey results help deaneries, local education and training boards and local education providers to recognise the aspects of the training they deliver that are working well, and to take action where the results indicate a need for improvement.

Dr Muj Husain is an ST5 in psychiatry and currently a clinical fellow at the GMC:

"The national training survey is a really useful tool for identifying problems and finding out where things are going well. As a doctor in training I’ve used the survey results to draw attention to areas for improvement and to help target our work locally on improving training. The results are also an extremely valuable component of the GMC’s work to monitor the quality of postgraduate and foundation training in the UK. "

The survey is easy to complete – it should take you no more than 20 minutes. Log in to your GMC Online account after 26 March and your survey will be waiting for you. Please respond to the survey by 8 May 2013 to make sure your views count.

The survey provides us with a unique chance to understand, reflect and improve the way we train. It is important that we hear the views of all trainees so that we have as accurate a picture of the training we provide as possible.

Visit gmc-uk to find out more.

Medical training has undergone huge changes over the past decade. We have seen the implementation of the European Working Time Directive, the advent of Modernising Medical Careers and the creation of the Foundation Programme. The profound effects of these reforms have been considered and analysed by a number of key enquires. Professor Sir John Temple led a review of the impact of new working time legislation on training and produced the Time for Training report. This made 33 recommendations of how training could be improved within the boundaries of a 48 hour working week. Health Education England have distilled these recommendations in to common themes and identified three that are relevant to the role that trainees play in their own training:

• Training must be planned and focussed for the trainees’ needs
• Training requires a change from traditional perceptions of learning which recognises the modern NHS
• Trainees must be involved in the decision making and implementation of training innovations that affect their present and future careers

The challenge is for us as trainees to seize this opportunity to come up with solutions that allow us to make training work better for us. We are ideally positioned to see where things could be improved, but can lack the senior support, financial backing or voice to be able to affect these changes. Health Education England has put forward £100,000 to change this. It is working with the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges to identify a number of trainee-led projects in England that meet the challenge set out in Professor Temple’s recommendations.

There are no limits about what the project could be like, as long as you can show how it would positively change training by addressing the recommendations. Ideas could look at trainee representation, mentoring, portfolios, career planning, mobile apps, educational websites, e-learning…whatever you feel would improve the experience of being a trainee. Projects must have the potential to have a national impact and need to be sustainable, even when the original trainees move on.

As well as the money, HEE and the Academy will also help you to identify the appropriate support for your project, be that from Deaneries or the Colleges, IT know-how or media assistance.

For more info and for an application form, please contact the Better Training, Better Care team or 020 8433 6862. Alternatively please visit:

www.hee.nhs.uk/work-programmes/btbc/role-of-trainee

Applications close 12 noon Tuesday 2 April 2013.

Good luck

Dr. Howard Ryland

Clinical Fellow

Dear Colleagues,

For the last four years, the Severn Deanery has topped the national league in having the highest response rate for the GMC trainee survey, which is a tremendous record and one that we can be very proud of. The results of this survey form a vital part of the quality management processes in the Deanery - visits, reporting, quality panels, the risk register and work to improve posts within Trusts and Schools. This also forms feedback for the Trusts and the individual programmes. We need the highest response rate we can get again this year to have reliable and valid results. This will also allow us in particular to analyse results from smaller specialties.

This year the survey is open for six weeks from 26th March 2013 until 8th May 2013. I am therefore asking for your concerted help to attempt to achieve the highest response rates possible within the live period again this year for all Trusts, Schools (including Primary Care) and the Deanery. Could you please give your support to the Quality team at the Deanery who are coordinating this on all our behalf.

If there are any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Allegra Etheridge.

With many thanks,

Best wishes,

Professor Davinder P S Sandhu

Applications are now open for the National Medical Director’s Clinical Fellow Scheme. The scheme is an exciting and unique opportunity for doctors in training to gain skills in leadership, management and health policy.

Participants spend a year full time, learning by doing, in an extensive range of host organisations, including NICE, NHS Commissioning Board, GMC, BUPA and Medical Royal Colleges. Based on the current fellows’ experiences, the broad portfolio of potential work ranges from organising ministerial seminars to coordinating the national viral outbreak response strategy. This work is complemented by extensive training opportunities and the peer support offered by being part of a cohort with other junior doctors.

Clinical Fellows have the chance to work alongside influential leaders and meet key players in healthcare from the NHS and beyond. The scheme has acted as a launch-pad for further careers in medical management, clinical leadership, public health and policy. Secondment ensures that existing terms and conditions are maintained and the posts are paid a clinical salary with banding.

This year there will be placements across England, including a number of opportunities in the north of the country. For more information please visit: http://www.fmlm.ac.uk/clinical-fellow-scheme

Applications close on 11^th March 2013 and will be followed by a shortlisting process, with interviews on 15^th and 16^th April.

As you may be aware the Postgraduate Board has approved the introduction of a limit on timeframes within which a doctor is able to apply for a CCT / CP. The limit will be 12 months from the doctors expected end of training date, and will be effective from 31 March 2013.

http://www.gmc-uk.org/SGPC___CCT_flyer___DC3249.pdf_50700429.pdf

From 31 March 2013 all doctors will have a maximum of 12 months to apply for their Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or specialist and GP registration through the Combined Programme (CP) route.

What does that mean for me?

If you’re eligible to apply before 31 March 2013, you have until 31 March 2014 to apply.

If you’re eligible to apply after 31 March 2013, you have 12 months from your expected end of training date to apply.

What happens if I don’t apply in time?

You will only be eligible to apply for entry to the specialist or GP register through the equivalence routes of CESR or CEGPR.n You’ll no longer be eligible for a CCT or specialist and GP registration through CP.

Need more help?

You can find more information on our website at www.gmc-uk.org/cctchanges/.

Senior Faculty members of the Deanery are expected to manage and deal with trainees who are referred on from Educational Supervisors because either the issues involved are potentially quite serious or the supervisors feel unable to handle the trainee themselves. The Deanery recognises that DMEs, Heads of School and Training Programme Directors have a special and sometimes difficult role in seeing trainees who need specific support or deft handling due to the complex or challenging nature of their situation or state. Although the Educational Supervisor half day workshop ‘How To Support Trainees’ considers this it does not explore issues in great depth nor does it enhance or develop skills due to time constraints. This day will explore in detail how to start the conversation and interaction when trainees have sensitive or difficult issues, consider how to explore such situations with trainees whilst being clear about standards and expectations and explore ways of moving on such situations towards successful resolutions. The day is being designed by Edgecumbe Consulting Group and will be delivered by Jenny King, Megan Joffe and Alan Cook, along with actors from Interact. It will include focused inputs, case discussions and practical skills development. 

Overall aim of day 

To enhance abilities in dealing with trainees who need support and are referred on from Educational Supervisors and others

Specific objectives

•  To learn how to diagnose a trainees needs and situational factors when referred at Level 2
• To develop skills in reframing and motivational questioning and explore other useful skills
• To clarify practice about documentation
• To explore how to assess levels of insight and explore how personality and self-assessment play into this
• To review how to decide on the right strategy and approach for each individual seen depending on the significant variables in play

The workshop will be a full day from 09.30-17.00, further details will be available closer to the event. The dates we are running the workshop are:

• Thursday 17th January 2013
• Monday 11th March 2013 

Both workshops will take place at Engineers House, Clifton, Bristol. BS8 3NB

If you are available and would like to attend please do let me know.

Best Wishes

Anne Elliott | Medical Education Development Manager | Severn Deanery | Vantage Office Park | Old Gloucester Road, Hambrook | Bristol, BS16 1GW |  

Tel: 01454 252624

The Shape of Training review – call for ideas and evidence now open

We have now launched the Shape of Training call for ideas and evidence, which is just one of several activities which we will be using to gather evidence. These also include UK seminars, oral evidence sessions, surveys, discussion groups and more.

The Shape of Training review 2012-2013

This review has been set up to understand and plan for the future of postgraduate medical education and training.  It is an independent review, jointly sponsored by:

• Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC)
• Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans of the UK (COPMeD)
• General Medical Council (GMC)
• Health Education England (HEE)
• Medical Schools Council (MSC)
• NHS Scotland
• NHS Wales 
• Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.  

Direction and themes

Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham University, was appointed in March this year to lead the review. In the first instance he brought together an Expert Advisory Group (EAG), to help determine the content and direction for this work. This group comprises medical training, patient and employers experts as well as expertise from outside the health sector. With their help, Professor Greenaway has identified the following key themes for discussion:

• Patient needs
• The balance of the medical workforce
• Flexibility in training
• The breadth and scope of training
• The tension between training and service provision

Evidence for the review will be gathered from a mix of stakeholders. Their views will be gathered via a combination of written and oral submissions, research evidence, site visits, surveys, discussion groups and events.

Next steps

A call for ideas and evidence is now live and will continue until 8 February 2013. We have planned five seminars for those involved with medical education, which will take place in all four countries, between now and January.  Site visits in locations across the UK have already begun with the first of these in Northern Ireland in October.

Find out more about the review at the independent Shape of Training website at:   http://www.shapeoftraining.co.uk/

Please cascade this to your members and partners for their websites

I hope you find this useful and that as sponsors we can together raise the profile and drive interest in this important work. Please contact us directly at shapeoftraining@gmc-uk.org with any questions or comments about this.

GMC position statement - November 2012

Purpose of this document

To provide clear guidance to Postgraduate Deaneries, Medical Royal Colleges/Faculties and trainees on the management of absences from training and their affect on a trainee’s Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) date

To supersede all references to time out of training (also known as exceptional leave) that are in existing curricula.

Who is covered by the revised requirements?

All Postgraduate trainees in GMC approved training, including fixed term posts such as locum appointments for training or Fixed Term Training Appointments are covered by this position statement. It is not dependent on the trainee working towards a CCT. This position statement does not cover Foundation trainees who are covered by a separate statement for provisionally registered doctors and also the UK Foundation Programme Reference Guide 2012.

Background

Prior to the Postgraduate Medical and Education Training Board (PMETB) being set up in 2005, curricula were time based with each specialty defining the length of time that a trainee needed to spend in the specialty before they were eligible to be awarded a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST - the certificate prior to the introduction of the CCT). Individual Colleges had different rules for the amount of time that a trainee could spend out of training without it affecting their CCT date.

PMETB introduced a move to competency based curricula underpinned by indicative timeframes. All curricula became competency based by 2010.

In parallel to the curriculum changes trainees’ hours of work have reduced with the implementation of working time regulations.

Individual College rules around time out of training were in many cases not altered to reflect the move to competency based training and the changes to working hours.

The current legal position

Sections 34J and 34K of the Medical Act outline the minimum training times for general practice and specialist training respectively and section 34L outlines that in order for the GMC to be able to award a CCT it must be satisfied that the individual has satisfactorily completed the approved course of training. This allows the GMC to determine the arrangements for certification.

Issues

Absence from training, other than for study or annual leave, may have an impact on a doctor’s ability to demonstrate competence and the satisfactory completion of the curriculum and assessment system to enable them to be awardeda CCT.

Absence is being treated differently across specialties and deaneries and there is a need to ensure fairness whilst recognising the different indicative lengths of each curriculum.

Historical allowances have not been updated to reflect the move to competency based curricula or shorter working hours.

Consultation with key interests

All stakeholder groups have been consulted, Deaneries, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, Colleges/Faculties and junior doctors groups.

Position

The General Medical Council has determined that within each 12 month period where a trainee has been absent for a total of 14 days or more (when a trainee would normally be at work), this will trigger a review of whether the trainee needs to have their CCT date extended.

The administration of the absence and any extension to training will be undertaken by the relevant deanery in consultation with the relevant College/Faculty where necessary. The GMC support deaneries implementing this guidance flexibly to reflect the nature of the absence, the timing and the affect of the absence on the individuals’ competence. Examples of this flexibility are outlined in the FAQs. The GMC also support the use of targeted training to assist trainees in demonstrating the curriculum competencies without the need for an extension to training.

Equality

The absence includes all forms of absence such as sickness, maternity, compassionate paid/unpaid leave etc other than study or annual leave or prospectively approved Out of Programme Training/ research.

This statement is concerned with the effect of absence on a doctor’s ability to satisfactorily demonstrate the competency requirements of the relevant curriculum. It is not concerned with the doctor’s position as an employee and does not affect the doctor’s right to annual, sick, maternity, compassionate or other leave.

It is noted that this policy may have a disproportionate affect on those who have a single maternity absence within their training as previously they would have been given (for some curricula) one block of three months exceptional leave. The GMC have noted however, in all circumstances a trainee is required to demonstrate the necessary competencies of the curriculum and this would have been the case whether the three month exceptional leave had been granted or not.

The flexible approach outlined in paragraph 14 will enable each trainee’s circumstances to be considered on an individual basis and that any changes to CCT date will reflect the trainee’s demonstration of competence.

Implementation

Implementation date 1 April 2013

• Existing “exceptional leave” provisions in individual curricula are no longer acceptable
• Curriculum change submissions to reflect this statement
• ARCPs undertaken after this date that are assessing a full year period from 1 April 2013 to include the review of absence.

Not withstanding this implementation date, trainees are required to demonstrate the curriculum competency requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Colleges/Deaneries

Q: Will Colleges need to amend their curricula to remove any reference to time out of training?

A: Yes, for any changes submitted to the GMC from 1 April 2013.

Q: Will Deaneries and Colleges need to amend their websites

A: Yes, it is important that it is clear to trainees that extended absences are likely to lead to an amendment of their CCT date.

Trainees

Q: I have been given three months “exceptional” leave for a period of maternity leave that I took last year. Will my CCT date have to be extended given this new guidance?

A: Where a trainee has already been granted absence under the previous guidance this will not be retrospectively removed. However each trainee is required to demonstrate the curriculum competencies and this may therefore require targeted training or an extension to training in order to enable the trainee to demonstrate the curriculum competencies.

Q: If I am absent for more than 14 days (when I would normally be at work) will my CCT date automatically be amended?

A: The deanery will review each case of absence of 14 days or more in a single year and look at various factors:-

• timing of the absence - is it early in training or in the final months of the programme, is it immediately after a period of annual leave
• history of absence – has the trainee had periods of absence repeatedly
• nature of the absence – has the trainee been able to continue to participate in some elements of the training such as reading, online study etc.
• nature of the training that has been missed
• performance and assessments

The deanery will then consider whether the trainee has been able to demonstrate the curriculum competencies for the ARCP level, whether any deficiencies could be addressed through a period of targeted training or whether training needs to be extended. The deanery may wish to postpone this decision dependent on the following year’s performance, that is, to give the trainee the opportunity to achieve the competency through targeted training.

Q: How will the GMC ensure that deaneries implement this requirement fairly and consistently?

A: The GMC will monitor extensions to training via the review of ARCP data.

Q: How will the deanery know about my absence?

A: it is each individuals trainees responsibility under good medical practice to be honest and open and act with integrity and as such, to ensure that the deanery are aware of their absences through the deanery reporting requirements.

Q: Will the Out of Programme (OOPT/OOPR) process still exist?

A: Yes, this position statement is for absences that fall out with study or annual leave and any prospectively approved Out of Programme Training or Research. The existing OOPE process as defined in the Gold Guide is not affected by this statement

Q: What do the GMC mean by “normally at work”?

A: A doctor’s pattern of work will vary, with absences being blocks or weekends.Where a trainee is absent during their scheduled time away from work (work includes study leave) then this does not get counted within the period of absence.

For less than full time workers where they are absent during their scheduled non working time this does not count towards the period of absence.

Scheduled time away from work for full time or less than full time trainees cannot be amended to avoid counting absent time.

GMC position statement - November 2012

This document sets out the General Medical Council’s (GMC) requirements for trainees who are working towards a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) to transfer to the most recent GMC approved curriculum.

Following calls for a review of the position, the GMC concluded that the current arrangements (under which trainees in some specialties remain on the same version of the curriculum throughout their training even where it has been superseded) are unsatisfactory; in the interests of patient safety and educational quality, trainees in all specialties should transfer to the most recent curriculum and assessment system.

In effect this will mean that at any one time there will only be a maximum of two approved curriculum per specialty, the “old” one in which only those trainees in their final year of training will remain and the “current” curriculum. This will mean that trainees will be trained and assessed against the most recent standards for the specialty.

Who is covered by the revised requirements?

The revised requirements are relevant to those involved in the organisation, delivery and receipt of postgraduate medical education and training in the UK and those trainees who are in GMC approved postgraduate training programmes leading towards a CCT whose CCT date falls within the implementation plan.

Background

Prior to the formation of the Postgraduate Medical and Education Training Board (PMETB) in September 2005 there was no single set of standards against which curricula were developed. PMETB introduced a set of standards and an approval process and approved curricula for all the specialties in 2007. At that time therefore there were two groups of trainees, those on pre 2007 curricula and those on the 2007 curricula. Many of the curricula were in the early stages of development and it was acknowledged that the assessment systems, in particular,required development in order to fulfil the published standards. PMETB undertook a review of all curricula in 2010 and approved amendments.

The GMC adopted the standards for curriculum and assessment systems defined by PMETB and continues to consider changes submitted by Colleges and Faculties against these standards. This has meant that for virtually all of the 65 approved specialties (the exceptions being those specialties which have only recently been established) there are currently three or four approved curricula and assessments systems that trainees are following

• pre 2007
• 2007
• 2010 and
• post 2010

The current legal position

The Medical Act stipulates the standards which the GMC are required to set and maintain in relation to specialty training and the award of a CCT. To illustrate, the following provisions are relevant:

Section 34H says…

(1) The General Council shall-
(a) establish standards of, and requirements relating to, postgraduate medical education and training, including those necessary for the award of a CCT in general practice and in each recognised specialty;
(b) secure the maintenance of the standards and requirements established under paragraph (a);

And

(2)(b) to ensure that the needs of employers and those engaging the services of general practitioners and specialists within the UK health services are met by the standards the General Council establish under subsection (1)(a).

(4) The standards and requirements established under subsection (1)(a) shall include -
(b) the training curricula to be followed in general practice and in each recognised specialty;
(c) the assessment arrangements for persons undertaking education and training in general practice and specialist medical practice;practice or specialist medical practice;

Section 34L(1) says… the Registrar shall award a certificate of completion of training (CCT) to any person who applies to the General Council for that purpose if -
(b) the Registrar is satisfied that that person has been appointed to, and has satisfactorily completed, a course of training leading to the award of a CCT;

In setting and securing the standards and ensuring the needs of employers are met (34H(1)), and the Registrar’s responsibility to award a CCT to those who have completed an entire course of training leading to the award of a CCT, it would seem entirely reasonable to require that a trainee is up-to-date with the expectations of the relevant specialty current at the time the application is made for a CCT. Patients, and the NHS, would rightly expect nothing less.

Issues

There is general agreement, including amongst organisations representing the interests of trainees, that the current position is unsatisfactory for several reasons:

• Where updated curricula reflect patient safety issues, the needs of service, changing technologies and national legislative changes it would be unacceptable for the GMC to award a CCT to a trainee that had not fulfilled these requirements.
• It is important that all trainees awarded a CCT in the relevant specialty are equally up to speed, knowledgeable and competent – and assessed as such.
• Colleges/Faculties are submitting change requests on an almost annual basis. With training programmes ranging from three to eight years in duration and the fact that there is an increasing number of trainees working less than full time, if the move to current curricula is not implemented there could be in excess of 10 approved curricula in use at one time.
• Frequent changes to curricula are unsettling for trainees and difficult for trainers to manage.
• Deaneries have been required to manage and deliver as many as three or four different curricula with their matching assessment systems at the same time. We have had reported to us that this has caused confusion for trainees and trainers.
• Colleges/Faculties have also submitted changes to their assessment systems both in respect of work place based assessments and examinations. There is potential for confusion amongst those undertaking the assessments having to use different systems for different trainees under their supervision. In addition if trainees leave the programme without an understanding of the current assessment tools this may cause difficulties for future post CCT roles where the individuals become the assessors.
• A number of Colleges/Faculties use eportfolios, and having different curricula and assessment systems being followed at the same time, has the potential for confusion and technical difficulties.

The implementation of the position statement needs to ensure that the general principle of transfer to the current curriculum is observed, with those in their last year of training not being affected. Therefore transition plans are to follow the following key points

• The plan must be implemented for all trainees as appropriate for the timescales within the implementation plan.
• For “steady state” the plan should demonstrate completion of transition within two years of the approval of the new curriculum, but may be earlier.
• Implementation is expected to begin from approval – i.e. it does not need to await the next recruitment round.
• The administrative burden for trainees and deaneries should be kept to a minimum.

Consultation with key interests

We have consulted widely across the sector, including the UK health departments, NHS Employers, trainee bodies, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and individual colleges/Faculties and postgraduate deaneries. There has been general support from all stakeholders.

Implementation

This document together with the attached FAQs provides guidance to:

• Colleges/Faculties and Postgraduate Deans on what is required from them to transfer existing trainees to the most up to date curriculum
• Colleges/Faculties on what they need to do when they propose curriculum and/or assessment system changes.

A number of Colleges have previously approved implementation plans that were submitted as part of their curriculum changes. These have been widely published and are clear to trainees. It has been reported to the GMC that these transition arrangements will be complete by the end of December 2015. Subject to all trainees being transferred to the current curriculum by 1 January 2016 these existing plans remain approved.

The implementation plan is outlined below

by 31 March 2013

• Any College/Faculty submissions for curriculum or assessment system changes to include
  • mapping from existing curriculum
  • implementation plan for the transition to the proposed new curriculum
  • consultation with trainees and deaneries on the implementation plan 

by 31 December 2013

• Colleges/Faculties to produce (in liaison with their Lead Dean and trainees) for each of their curricula, a map showing the transfer of competencies from each of the “old” curriculum to their current curriculum. Including details of any impact, for example number of trainees, additional training resources required.

Between 1 January 2014 and By 31 December 2015

• Postgraduate Deaneries move trainees to the current curriculum at the point that they move from one year to another within the programme (usually at the trainees ARCP).
• The deadline of 31 December 2015 is the latest point at which all trainees will be required to have moved. Where Colleges in consultation with Deaneries are able to move trainees earlier this is encouraged by the GMC.

1 January 2016 (or earlier if trainees moved earlier)

• GMC decommission “old” curriculum and assessment systems for each specialty and sub specialty and also decommission “old” programme approvals.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How will Colleges/Faculties map “old” to “current” curricula?

A: Colleges will need to consider

• what areas of the curriculum have changed (been added/ removed/increased/ decreased/ altered)
• what assessments have changed
• when looking at the above, what additional resources or adaptations to existing programmes will be required to enable trainees to fulfil these changes?

Step 1: Colleges map changes from old to current curriculum – broken down into each year of training and outlining if in a later year what needs to be gone back upon in the earlier years.

Step 2: Colleges send to deaneries to consider the implementation plan for each of their trainees

Step 3: Deaneries at the next ARCP agree the changes and any targeted training to cover new/missed competencies and whether training needs to be extended

Step 4: Colleges report on progress in their annual specialty reports, Deaneries report on progress in their annual deanery reports.

Q: Will the College need to look at every trainee to ascertain where they slot into the current curriculum?

A: No. In order to ensure the administrative burden on Colleges, Deaneries and trainees is as low as possible, the mapping will outline at each year (so one map per year of the curriculum) of the curriculum where competencies will be transferred and this will be confirmed at the trainee’s next ARCP meeting, with a trainee’s programme being adapted as appropriate.

Q: Will there be guidance for Deaneries on the implementation?

A: As part of the mapping Colleges will be asked to provide guidance for programme directors and heads of school, but they would not be looking at individual trainees situations.

Examinations and assessments

Q: If I am in a training programme and the examination has changed will I need to retake it when I have already passed it?

A: No. However if the examination amendments have included examination in “new” areas of the curriculum then the College will define within its mapping whether additional evidence is required such as targeted workplace based assessments.

Q: I have passed part of the old exam – will this count towards the new exam?

A: Part of the College submission for any amendments to their curriculum and assessment systems will include discussion with trainees on the implementation and timings of changes and will outline whether parts of the exams will contribute towards the new exam. For existing curricula and assessment systems the mapping provided by the College will show how the “old” examination maps to the “current” one.

Q: I am in uncoupled training and have passed the old membership/fellowship examination but have not yet entered ST3 training. Will I need to take the new exam as well?

A: The examination is one part of the curriculum and assessment system for your specialty. The mapping produced by the College will outline what elements of the “current” curriculum you have already achieved and will indicate what assessments you need to complete. The Colleges will take into consideration the agreed position in relation to currency of examinations.

Q: If a new examination is introduced will I need to take it?

A: As part of the submission for the change of the assessment system the College will submit outlines of how existing trainees will move onto the new curriculum, this will include consultations with trainees to ensure that the timeframes are suitable and appropriate (falling within the maximum of a two year transition). For example if an examination is introduced in a trainee’s final year of training then it would not be reasonable to require a trainee to pass this new examination. However trainees may wish to take the examination for future employment opportunities.

Q: There is a new WPBA being introduced, will I need to go back and have all my old assessments completed against this new WPBA?

A: No – there will be an introduction date and it will be from that date that trainees will need to be assessed using the new WPBA. A number of trainees may also have been part of pilots prior to the formal introduction. It is important that the transition does not place an overly burdensome administrative process on all those involved or that trainees are required to demonstrate competencies they have already demonstrated.

Q: In my specialty the current curriculum requires trainees to record their progress/assessment using an e-portfolio – will I need to use it?

A: Where Colleges require trainees to use specific assessment or progress recording systems such as eportfolios then, yes you will need to use these, however you will not be required to retrospectively gather data. Colleges will provide guidance on the transfer of existing information.

Exemptions from transfer

Q: I am in my grace period after my expected CCT date – will I have to transfer?

A: No, however you must apply for your CCT within six months of your CCT date.

Q: I am in my last year of training – will I have to transfer?

A: the implementation plan will outline the timing of transfers to the current curriculum. These will be individual for each specialty. For clarity No trainee (including any less than full time or those out of programme) may remain in an “old” curriculum from 1 January 2016, subject to those trainees that fall into the category outlined in 24Q.

Q: Will I have an option to transfer even if I fall outside the requirement to transfer?

A: All trainees will be encouraged to transfer to the current curriculum so as to ensure that they will be fully up to date with current requirements for their specialty to ensure patient safety. Trainees should also be aware that not completing the current curriculum may have a detrimental affect on their employment opportunities.

Q: I am looking at becoming a less than full time trainee and this would extend my CCT date beyond January 2016 – will I have to transfer?

A: Yes.

Out of Programme

Q: I am currently in research – what will happen to me?

A: The current curriculum may not have the same recognition for research as the “old” one and so your training requirements will be considered on an individual basis. If you are in a programme and on an Out of Programme for Research (OOPR) then your transfer will not wait until your return to the programme. If you are not in a programme then you will apply in the usual way to the curriculum in place at the point of your application.

Q: I am currently in an Out of Programme Experience approved for training – what will happen to me?

A: You will be transferred to the current curriculum in the same way as other trainees at your ARCP (this will not wait until your return to the programme).

Q: My forthcoming Out of Programme Experience has been approved based on the “old” curriculum, what does this mean for me?

A: You will be transferred to the current curriculum in the same way as other trainees at your ARCP (this will not wait until your return to the programme if the ARCP is earlier). You may be required to undergo targeted WPBAs to ensure that you fulfil the requirements of the “current” curriculum.

Q: I am on maternity leave – what will happen to me?

A: As part of your ARCP you will be transferred to the current curriculum in the same way as other trainees.

Curricula competencies

Q: A change to the curriculum has been made in the early years of the programme that I have already completed (i.e. in ST3 and I am in ST5), will I have to go back and do this training?

A: The Colleges will map the “old” curriculum to the current one. Where the achievement of these earlier competencies can be demonstrated via later WPBAs or examinations then they will not need to be repeated. It should be noted however that some curricula are spiral in nature and earlier competencies are needed to underpin later ones and therefore you may need to have targeted training to support the achievement of the curriculum requirements. Other curriculum changes have been made to answer employer requirements and trainees may want to demonstrate these competencies for their future employment prospects.

Q: I am an advanced or higher trainee. Will I be affected by changes in Core training?

A: No, unless these changes are necessary to underpin later competencies in the curriculum. See question 18 above. Colleges will detail this in their mapping of the “old” to the current curriculum.

Q: The new curriculum stipulates a specific requirement which will be difficult to achieve at my current stage of training. What should I do?

A: Your postgraduate dean and training programme director will work with you to deliver the training that you require to complete the requirements of the current curriculum. Every effort will be made to do this via targeted training rather than an extension to training.

Q: The new curriculum is longer – does this mean that my CCT date will be extended?

A: All curricula are competency based and therefore it will be necessary as part of the Colleges’ submissions for changes to indicate whether there will need to be an extension to training time in order to enable trainees to demonstrate the competency levels. Every effort will be made to do this via targeted training rather than an extension to training.

Performance

Q: I have an outcome 3 or RITA E – where will I transfer?

A: You will transfer into the current curriculum at the point when you were last considered to have satisfactorily completed training. The transfer will not give you additional opportunities for training extensions.

Q: I have already had the maximum extension to training permitted in the gold guide, what will happen to me if the transfer requires an extension to my training?

A: Every effort will be made to enable trainees to achieve additional requirements via targeted training. If however an extension to training is required this will not count within the maximum extension to training period defined in the gold guide.

Q: My expected CCT date has been extended to June 2016 as I have not been able to demonstrate the required competencies. I did not originally have to transfer, will I now have to do so?

A: Where an extension is for six months then you are not required to transfer but if the extension is for more than six months then you will need to transfer. As outlined above - All trainees will be encouraged to transfer to the current curriculum so as to ensure that they will be fully up to date with current requirements for their specialty to ensure patient safety.

Future changes

Q: How will I know if there is a change planned to the curriculum?

A: any changes proposed by Colleges to the GMC are required to include input from trainees/trainee organisations (as well as Deaneries) particularly in relation to the transition plans and implementation timetable. It is important therefore that you maintain contact with your College throughout your training so that you are aware of developments.

Guidance

Q: Where can I find guidance on how to use the “current” curriculum and /or assessments?

A: Guidance on the current curriculum can be found on your College website.

Q: The “current” curriculum has new competencies, where can I find guidance on how to achieve these?

A: In the first instance please discuss any queries you have with your supervisor. Any changes to curricula and assessment systems are cascaded by the Collegesthrough the College and Deanery networks of trainers.

Here is an opportunity from the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland for medical students and trainees to win prizes and have their work shown at the Group of Anaesthetists in Training meeting in Oxford next April.  Please see the link for details http://www.gatsm.org/content/oral-poster-prizes.

BRISTOL SCHOOL OF ANAESTHESIA

SCHOOL FORUM & AWARDS CEREMONY

Wednesday 5th December 2012

commencing at 3.00 pm

In Lecture Theatre 2, UHBristol Education Centre

ALL TRAINEES AND TRAINERS WELCOME

Background

On the merger of the GMC and PMETB in April 2010 the GMC became responsible for the awarding of the CCTs, other than streamlining the application process the policy around awarding of CCTs has not been reviewed. The CCT application process requires an application from the trainee and a recommendation from the parent college . The GMC invites those trainees that the college have indicated are due to complete their training in the next three to six months, to apply for their CCT via GMC Online. The college use the information that they hold on the trainee to determine whether they consider that the trainee has fulfilled the curriculum requirements and to provide the GMC with a recommendation. The college base their decision on information from the Deanery and usually additional information submitted by the trainee.

Once the GMC has received the application from the trainee together with the recommendation from the parent college the GMC issue the trainee with the CCT and add the doctors name to the specialist or GP register.

GP trainees in 96% of cases apply for their CCT in the month immediately before or the month after their CCT date. It is likely that this is because a GP trainee is removed from the performers list when their training finishes and cannot apply for entry (or re-entry) to a performers list unless they are listed in the GP Register.

Specialist trainees are less likely (51%) to apply within a month of their CCT date, this is likely to be because they can continue to work in any capacity other than that of a substantive NHS consultant (except a foundation trust) and many of them also take up the opportunity provided for them by the deanery for a grace period (up to six months post CCT date).

In the last six months the GMC have received a small number of enquiries from doctors, Deaneries or Medical Royal Colleges where a doctor failed to apply for their CCT (this will have been for numerous reasons). It appears that as doctors are preparing for their revalidation they are checking their registration status and are finding that they do not have specialist registration. One doctor had completed training in 2004.

There are a number of reasons which may make it impossible for the GMC to award a CCT to doctors who apply some time after their expected CCT date:-

• The deanery assessment was not carried out before they left training (i.e. no Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) or for the doctors from some time ago no Record of In Training Assessment (RITA) G was undertaken)
• The College did not receive the information that they needed in order to be able to make a recommendation (either from the doctor or the deanery)
• The College made a recommendation to the GMC (or previously PMETB) but no application was received from the doctor

In discussion with the Postgraduate Deaneries they have reported that where a trainee had not participated in the final ARCP (RITA) at the time of their completion of training it becomes difficult to make a judgement that the trainee had fulfilled the CCT curriculum and becomes impossible when a long period of time has elapsed.

Colleges have reported that they are not able to make a judgement without deanery documentation or when the doctor has left training and is working in limited practice. They have also reported that they are not always able to respond if they have been asked by the GMC if a recommendation they have submitted still stands (this happens when there is a gap between the college recommendation and the trainee application of more than six months)

From those that apply (the GMC currently does not maintain details of trainees coming up to their expected CCT date and relies on the medical Royal Colleges to provide these details) 99% apply within six months of their expected CCT date.

Post training revalidation is linked to a doctors end of training and so it is important that the trainee concludes their training with the award of the CCT and gains entry to the Specialist or GP register.

Legal advice has confirmed that the GMC is able to limit the timeframe within which it will consider an application for a CCT.

The Postgraduate Board agreed to the introduction of a limit on the timeframe within which a doctor is able to apply for a CCT. This time limit is 12 months from the doctors expected end of training date. It was further agreed that this time limit would be introduced effective from 31 March 2013.

It was further agreed that the GMC would work with interested parties (Colleges, trainees groups etc.) to publicise this time limit. In addition the GMC would contact all the doctors that the GMC had been informed of (by the colleges) that had to date not applied to inform them of this time limit.

It was noted that the GMC may not be able to make a decision on late applications submitted prior to 31 March 2013 where their was insufficient evidence of satisfactory completion of training (namely contemporaneous deanery and college documentation).

Doctors will continue to have the ability to apply for entry to the specialist or GP register but they would need to do so via the equivalence routes of CESR or CEGPR and provide the necessary documentation to confirm their current competence.

Resource implications

If numbers remain at the low level (four since Jan 2012) the financial impact is minimal as the additional work can be absorbed within current staffing. The affect on colleges and deaneries would be to reduce their work load in relation to delayed CCT applications but may increase the number of CESR/CEGPR applications, however they are resourced for these via the evaluation fee.

Contacting doctors who have not applied for a CCT will have resource implications for Colleges and the GMC will work with them to reduce this burden.

Equality

It was acknowledged that setting a time limit may have a disproportionate affect on less than full time trainees or those on maternity leave. To minimise this the time limit has been set at 12 months after a trainees CCT date which will give those in these groups sufficient time in which to submit an application. Other protected characteristic groups will not be affected by the implementation of the time limit.

The Final FRCA Teaching Day on 2nd November 2012 will now be held at Frenchay Hospital and not Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Applications are invited for advanced posts in Intensive Care Medicine, which are available within the Severn Deanery and Peninsula Deanery they give 1-2 years training to achieve CCT in Intensive Care Medicine.

Please follow link for all details - 

http://www.severndeanery.nhs.uk/recruitment/vacancies/show/advanced-intensive-care-medicine-3/

The Bristol School of Anaesthesia will be holding its annual School Forum and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 5th December 2012 in Bristol.  Further details will appear here shortly.

Tuesday 20th November 2012

The Academy, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton

Managing the needs of bariatric patients & optimising surgical outcome

South West Surgical Training Network

www.swstn.org

Originally run in 2011 as a South West Regional Bariatric Study Day, this informative course is open to all healthcare professionals involved in caring for bariatric patients.

This 1-day course, led by Yasmin Ferguson, Bariatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, will involve presentations from other members of the highly successful Musgrove Park Hospital multi-disciplinary Bariatric Team,
including:

• Richard Welbourn, Consultant Bariatric Surgeon
• Rob Andrews, Consultant Endocrinologist
• Nick Kennedy, Consultant Anaesthetist
• Beth Greenslade, Dietitian
• Vanessa Snowdon-Carr, Clinical psychologist

Delegates will benefit from information and discussion on:

• Surgical Options, Risks, Complications
• Anaesthesia / post-operative analgesia and anti-emetics
• Pre / post operative care
• Diet & Nutrition
• Sensitivity & Psychological considerations

FEES:

Consultants/ GPs: £80
Trainees: £60
Other HCPs: £40

There are a limited number of FREE places available for MPH staff (refundable deposit required)

For more information please contact: SWSTN Admin Office

c/o Yeovil AcademyYeovil District Hospital

Telephone: 01935 384529

Email: elaine.cox@ydh.nhs.uk

Online booking at www.swstn.org

Previous delegates said:

“Excellent day covering both surgical and medical aspects of obesity. Thank you.”

“Really enjoyed the day. Excellent view of patient journey.”

Using social media: practical and ethical guidance for doctors and medical students

The popularity of social media has grown rapidly in recent years. There is widespread use of sites such as Facebook and Twitter amongst medical students and doctors and there are a growing number of well-established blogs and internet forums that are aimed specifically at medical professionals, such as doctors.net.uk and the BMJ’s doc2doc.

While many medical professionals use social media without encountering any difficulties, media interest and research into examples of unprofessional behaviour online have raised concerns that some doctors and medical students may be unknowingly exposing themselves to risk in the way they are using these ‘web 2.0’ applications and uploading personal material onto the internet. Although medical professionals should be free to take advantage of the many personal and professional benefits that social media can offer, it is important that they are aware of the potential risks involved.

This guidance (Using social media: practical and ethical guidance for doctors and medical students) provides practical and ethical advice on the different issues that doctors and medical students may encounter when using social media.

About the review

The Shape of Training Review is looking at potential reforms to the structure of postgraduate medical education and training across the UK.

The review’s aim is to make sure we

• continue to train effective doctors who are fit to practise in the UK
• provide high quality and safe care and
• meet the needs of patients and service now and in the future.

What the review will focus on

Five themes have been identified which the review will focus on.

• Workforce needs – specialists or generalists?
• The breadth and scope of training
• The needs of the health service
• The needs of the patient
• Flexibility of training

The review is the latest step on a journey to ensure UK medical education and training can support and respond to society’s needs in the best possible way.

The interviews for ST3 posts will take place on Thursday 11th October (and possibly 12th October) at Severn Deanery HQ.  The projected number of vacancies is between 2 and 4.  If you have any queries about the School, rotation, hospitals or application process please feel free to contact either Dr Ted Rees, Specialty Training Programme Director or Dr Su Underwood, Head of School.

Joint CCT ICM recruitment will take place within the South West Region on the following dates Post advertised - Monday 8th October Closing date - Monday 5th November Interview date - 29th November There will be at least 4 posts available per annum within the Severn Deanery with a similar number of posts available within the Peninsula Deanery. Trainees must have already started a CCT programme at ST3 level within Medicine, Emergency Medicine or Anaesthesia prior to August 2012 to be considered.

Enquiries to Dr Jeremy Bewley for Severn Deanery and Dr Mark Sair for Peninsula Deanery.

To All Trainees:

Thank you all so much for your contribution to the GMC training survey this year. The Severn Deanery has a 99% response rate and is likely to have got the highest national response rate once again this year.  We guarantee that the results from this year’s survey will be closely monitored by the Deanery, Trusts and Schools with the aim of improving postgraduate medical education.

We appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey in 2012.

Best wishes,  Su Underwood, Head of School

Final FRCA Practice Vivas taking place from 28, 29, 30 May, 6, 7 June, 11 - 14 June, 18 - 21 June - 6 pm in the Library, BRI.

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

SIMULATED PAEDIATRIC LIFE-SUPPORT AND TRANSPORT COURSE

Wednesday 27th June 2012

A one-day simulation course for doctors and nurses – practice stabilising and transporting seriously-ill children in a safe, supportive environment!

The Simulated Paediatric Life-Support and Transfer (SPLAT) Course aims to provide training and experience for all those involved in the stabilisation and transfer of critically ill children.

Whether you work in an Emergency Department, Paediatric Ward or Intensive Care Unit, the course provides a fantastic opportunity to practice your resuscitation skills on state-of-the-art paediatric medical simulators.

The one-day course will combine sessions on child & infant simulators with lectures and small group workshops. Instruction is provided by an experienced faculty drawn from backgrounds in Paediatrics, PICU, Paediatric Anaesthesia and Transport Medicine & Nursing.

It is highly recommended for both medical and nursing staff of all grades, whether from a background in Paediatrics, Anaesthesia, Intensive Care or Emergency Medicine.

SPLAT has been designated for 6 CPD credits by both the RCPCH & RCoA.

Because of the intense nature of the instruction provided, places on the course are strictly limited. Early booking is recommended!

To Register, Contact:

Tel: 0117 342 0108

Fax: 0117 342 0123

Email: info@bmsc.co.uk

The Intensive Care Foundation

Young Investigator Award

CLOSING DATE FAST APPROACHING

Closing Date: Tuesday 8th May 2012, 17:00

 The Intensive Care Foundation would like to invite all young investigators to submit applications for this year’s “Young Investigator Award.”

Don’t get caught out – submit your application today!

Equal weighting will be given to quality clinical research projects and laboratory-based projects that have a relevance to the field of intensive care.

Individual applications may be granted up to £15,000

 For instructions and application forms click HERE

Or

For more information contact

Grace Elliott – grace@ics.ac.uk

www.intensivecarefoundation.org

Log on to GMC online after 30th April to complete your survey; the survey closes on 15th June. 

Please go to the GMC website to find out more.

Trainees, booking now open for the GAT ASM!

Limited availability for workshops
Booking has now opened for the trainee GAT ASM in Glasgow on the 27-29 June 2012. As well as a jam packed scientific programme we are running a number of practical and hands on workshops including

• Exam master class
• Mentoring taster sessions
• Organising a year abroad
• Advanced ventilation strategies
• Ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia
• Consultant interview master class.

Find out more on the GAT ASM website

The NHS Medical Director's Clinical Fellow Scheme is open to application from doctors in training. In the past three years we have had two Severn trainees, Brett Rocos and Robert Bethune, obtain these sought-after positions. If interested, you can obtain further information from: http://www.fmlm.ac.uk/clinical-fellow-scheme

The closing date for application is 22nd March 2012 and the post starts on 3rd September 2012.

The Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society was established in 1874 for the advancement of the Art and Science of Medicine in all its branches. It has a long and rich tradition of encouraging the exchange of facts and fellowship between disparate members of the medical community. Each year the Society plays host to presentations and debates on topics of medical and allied interest to the annual theme chosen by the Society's President. Guest speakers are invited to talk on a wide variety of subjects.

Meetings are held at 6.45pm on the second Wednesday from October usually until July with an option for a reception and supper followed by a presentation at 8.15pm.

These lectures are suitable for trainees and faculty and would contribute to the Professional and Generic Skills programme that all colleagues undertake in their role as a doctor. The Severn Deanery supports this programme and would encourage all colleagues to attend.

For more details and the programme please visit the Bristol Med-Chi website.

Applications are invited for new appointees to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's, Trainee Doctors Advisory Board (TRAB) we are also looking for a medical student representative for the board, applications are therefore invited from students within 2 years of final qualification and junior doctors from all clinical specialities. This group was developed to encouraging doctors in training to become involved with the MHRA to represent the opinions and needs of junior doctors, promote an understanding of the regulation of Medicines and Medical Devices in the UK, and promote the dissemination of information regarding the Agency

The remit of this group is as follows:

1. Raise and discuss individual ideas to promote the safe use of medical devices and medicines.
2. Promote an understanding of the Medical Devices and Medicines Regulations.
3. Cultivate an understanding of the functions and working of the MHRA.
4. Promote a commitment to, and understanding of, the necessity for medical device adverse incident reporting and Yellow Card reporting.
5. Promote information and knowledge on the rational use of medicines and devices.
6. Promote the dissemination of MHRA’s publications and information.
7. Provide an opinion on MHRA’s publications and information, including content, presentation, format, delivery and necessity.
8. Provide assistance and guidance on how to ensure the above are carried out to greatest effect. This may be through lecturing, organising conferences, disseminating information, or developing networks with other junior doctor societies as necessary.
9. Provide the Agency with an insight of their needs, and the needs of all healthcare professionals they work with.
10. Provide input into arrangements for conferences and other outreach activities.
11. Consider the wider picture, including interactions with all Royal Colleges, professional bodies, hospital management and other relevant bodies.

The TRAB group meets twice a year and members are expected to contribute to various initiatives throughout the year.

How to apply

Interested applicants should forward a copy of their CV and a covering letter to TRAB@mhra.gsi.gov.uk

Closing date

31 January 2012

If you have any questions or require further information please email TRAB@mhra.gsi.gov.uk

Medicines and Healthcare
Regulatory Agency

Website

Device Safety Website

Please find attached document detailing ICM National Recruitment for 2012.

The new School of Anaesthesia website is now Live!!!  If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Julie Flowers, School Support Manager.