THIS MODULE MUST BE COMPLETED BY ALL FOUNDATION TRAINEES 

The Deanery has been directed by Dr T McMurray (Postgraduate Dean) to ensure that all Foundation doctors complete an on line learning module as recommended by a working party headed by Dr Maura Briscoe who is responsible for Safety and Quality and Standards at DHSSPS.

This module is available at http://learning.bmj.com/learning/search-result.html?moduleId=5003358 . Completion of this specific on line module is required and has been included in F1 and F2 sign off for July 2008 - copy of certificate to be attached showing module has been completed.

The Agency is currently recruiting the position of Director of Postgraduate General Practice Education. 

For further information, please click here.

Please click here to view the Trust HR page to download the documentation required to accept your August 2008 posting. 

Following receipt of your postings, which will be circulated in the next couple of weeks, it is mandatory that all doctors refer to www.nimdta.gov.uk/human-resources/trust-hr to download important documents which MUST be completed in advance of starting your post.  There is a requirement to complete and return a number of forms IMMEDIATELY to ensure that the administration arrangements for your pay are completed.  Failure to do so will result in you not being paid on time. This section of our website has been developed by the Trusts and therefore you are unlikely to receive any further communication from the HR Department before you start.

You should also confirm your acceptance of this post IN WRITING when returning the required documentation to the Medical HR Team at the above hospital.  The banding supplement will relate to the banding of the post at the date of your acceptance.

Due to ongoing restructuring within Trusts and as payroll systems have not been amalgamated, doctors remaining / moving within a Trust should contact the relevant HR Department for advice on what forms should be completed.  Contact details and further information are also available on the website.

Please click here to view the Trust HR page to download the documentation required to accept your August 2008 posting. 

PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICINE – ST1 APPOINTMENTS (2 posts)

Applications are invited for the above post which is available from 6 August 2008.

Only applications on an official form will be considered at shortlisting – CV’s only will not be accepted.

Essential Criteria:
• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• Registered with the General Medical Council or be eligible to apply for registration
• Evidence of achievement of Foundation Competencies by August 2008

Desirable Criteria:
• Potential to benefit from training at ST1 level, as evidenced by less than 60 months experience in public health medicine depts. by August 2008

RHEUMATOLOGY – FTSTA3 APPOINTMENT (1 post)

Applications are invited for the above post which is available from 6 August 2008 for one year.

Only applications on an official form will be considered at shortlisting – CV’s only will not be accepted.

Essential Criteria:
• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• Registered with the General Medical Council or be eligible to apply for registration
• Evidence of achievement of Foundation Competencies by August 2008
• MRCP Part 1 or equivalent
• At least 24 months’ experience in medicine (not including Foundation modules) by August 2008

Desirable Criteria:
• MRCP (UK) or equivalent

HOW TO APPLY

Potential applicants should register at www.hpssjobs.com to apply.

Only applications completed and submitted via the HPSSJobs website will be accepted

Closing date for completed applications is:
Friday 13 June 2008 at 12.00 noon

It is anticipated that interviews for these posts will take place week beginning Monday 23 June 2008.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from suitably qualified people irrespective of age, disability, race, marital status / civil partnership status, political opinion, religious belief, gender, being pregnant or on maternity leave, whether or not an individual has dependants or sexual orientation.

Please click here for further information.

Guidance for applicants applying to Round 2 in Northern Ireland is now available.  Please click here to view the Specialty Recruitment page.

Please note that the 2008/9 GP Appraisal Calendar is now open.  Please follow the below link in order to Register for your Appraisal.

Register for 2008/9 GP Appraisal

For further information on recruitment into specialty training commencing August 2008, please click here.

The Dementia Services Development Centre for Northern Ireland will be holding it’s first international conference from 6th - 8th May 2008 at the Stormont Hotel Belfast.

A Special symposium for doctors is included in the programme.  The theme of citizenship has been chosen to recognise the contribution people with dementia make to society and the challenges confronting services in responding to the needs of people with dementia and their careers.

 For further information please visit www.dementiacentreni.org or contact the Demnetia Centre via the details below

The Dementia Services Development Centre - Northern Ireland
The Technology and Engineering Innovation Centre (TEIC)
Jordanstown Campus, Shore Road, Newtownabbey
County Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT37 0QB
Tel: 028 9093 0070  Fax: 028 9093 0010

The Agency is currently recruiting for the following posts:

• Anaesthetics ST3
• Clinical Genetics ST3

 For further information, please click here.

The recruitment process for the appointment of Dental VT and GPT Trainers and Trainees has now commenced.  For further information please click here.

Applications are invited for the above posts available from 6 February 2008 until 5 August 2008.

For further information, please click here.

The Agency is now recruiting for the following positions:

• Head and Deputy Head / TPD for School of Anaesthesia and ICM
• Head and Deputy Head / TPD for School of Emergency Medicine
• Deputy Head for School of Radiology
• Deputy Head for School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Specialty Administrators (3 Posts)
• Dental Administrator
• General Practice Administrator

For further information, please click here.

Please click here to download the Review of Recruitment into Specialty Training

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh will be holding the Northern Ireland Update in Medicine in the Hilton Hotel Templepatrick on
Thursday 31st Jan 2008. The course fee is £50.   To download a programme for the course please click here. 
 
For further information please contact Eileen Quinn as per the contact details below
Tel: 028 9063 4982
email: eileen.quinn.rcp@belfasttrust.hscni.net

For information on other courses in Northern Ireland please click here.

For further information please click here.

ATHENA PROGRAMME 07-08

ATHENA membership is now £195

Your membership will be valid from joining date until 30th June 2008

Please click on this link to be directed to the courses page http://www.nimdta.gov.uk/general-practice/professional-development/courses1/

If you experience any difficulities please contact Catherine Hamilton on 02890 400015.

The Agency is now recruiting for the Head and Deputy Head for the following specialties:

• Anaesthetics, Emergency Medicine and ICM
• Medicine
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Paediatrics
• Pathology (Head only)
• Psychiatry
• Radiology
• Surgery

For further information, please click here.

Written Course for MRCP(UK) Part 2: 24th October – 26th October 2007

29th Medical Emergencies Course for Trainee Doctors

Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th October 2007

Venue: The Cruciform Building, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1

Registration fee: £250  Contact anita@hartleytaylor.co.uk for a registration form

(Includes lunches, refreshments and Oxford Handbook of Critical Care)

Programme attached co-ordinated by Professor Mervyn Singer

Topics:

• What constitutes a sick patient?
• Hypovolaemia, GI Haemorrhage, Acute hepatic failure
• Myocardial infarction, Chest pain
• Metabolic emergencies
• Oliguria, Acute renal failure
• Unconscious patient, Status epilepticus, Meningitis
• Hypothermia, Hyperpyrexia, Overdose
• Acute heart failure, Arrhythmias
• Dyspnoea, Acute asthma, Pneumothorax
• Hypotensive patient, The septic patient

To view the programme please click here

For more information on available courses please click here

The Royal Society of Medicine is holding a one-day conference on the 1st of November 2007. The link to the conference is http://www.rsm.ac.uk/academ/copdbelfast.php 

Please click here to view the programme

For more information on courses please click here

The Institute for Lung Health, Leicester

The Institute for Lung Health, Leicester, runs a well-established programme of adult and paediatric respiratory medicine courses throughout the year.  These courses are aimed at junior doctors and provide valuable training in this field of medicine.

The programme covers the following topics:

Respiratory infections

Respiratory physiology

Chest radiology

Lung cancer

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Paediatric airway

Practical critical care

The courses are high-quality, intensive, comprehensive and state-of-the-art.  They involve a mixture of internal and external speakers who are widely regarded as the leading experts in their field.  The format of each course includes lectures, demonstrations, clinical scenarios, interactive sessions and quizzes. 

For further information please visit www.ilh.org.uk

For more information on courses please click here

The Ophthalmology Essentials NI is a course run by Ophthalmologists for other Doctors and Nurses.

It will be held at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Ophthalmic Day Unit (Ward 27), Eye & Ear Clinic

Two dates are currenty available! Saturday 13th October 2007 & Saturday 8th December 2007

To download the flier please click here. 

For further information on training courses please click here.

Please click here to read the Invitation to the Ulster Medical Society’s Autumn meeting.

For further information on Training in Medical Specialties in Northern Ireland and the Instructions for submitting your abstract, please click here.

For further information please click here.

The Intercollegiate Surgical curriculum project (ISCP) trainee induction evening is to be held on Thursday  16th August 2007, 7pm to 9pm, in the Samuel Irwin Lecture Theatre in the RVH.  ALL surgical trainees at ALL levels can attend although it will really be focused on the ST/FTSTA 1- 3 levels.  Please click here for the flier. 

For further information on Surgical Run-Through Training in Northern Ireland please click here.

For further information of the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Project please visit www.iscp.ac.uk.

For details on support arrangements for trainee doctors currently working in Northern Ireland please click here.

Please note that emails to register for support arrangements must be received by 5pm on Wednesday 25 July 2007.

See Nick Ross launch the ISCP, access your Getting Started Hospital Doctor booklet, a Step-by-Step Guide and all the guidance you need, whether a trainee, consultant trainer, assigned educational supervisor or programme director.

www.iscp.ac.uk provides comprehensive information on the syllabus, competences, standards and assessment whenever trainees take up their posts.  The ISCP covers all nine surgical specialties.

Any questions? Contact the Helpdesk team - helpdesk@iscp.ac.uk or telephone 020 7869 6299.

From August 2007, it will be mandatory for all new surgical trainees and their trainers to use the new surgical curricula. When trainees and assigned educational supervisors register with the ISCP, they will be able to utilise the interactive website to upload learning agreements, record assessments and progression, update logbooks and build e-portfolios.

To become familiar with the system, trainees and education supervisors may pre-register before August 2007 by logging onto www.iscp.ac.uk. For help with registering, email helpdesk@iscp.ac.uk or telephone the ISCP Help Desk on 020 7869 6299.

The ISCP has been developed by all Surgical Colleges of Great Britain and Ireland and all nine Surgical Specialty Associations under the umbrella of the Joint Committee of Surgical Training (JCST).

Please click here to view the most up to date information on Specialty Offers made

Please click here to read the letter from the CMO - Update on Specialty Training Recruitment in Northern Ireland 11 May 2007

To view other informtion on Specialty Recruitment please click here

For further information on Foundation Year 1 posts please click here.

The dates for  the MRCPCH Clinical Course have been confirmed as 4 - 8 June 2007.  Please read below for further information on the course and to download an appliaction form

• Please be advised that there is a Maximum of 10 Places
• Places on the course are available to N. Ireland SHO Trainees only
• Trainees must obtain approval for time off to attend.
• click here to download a programme
• Click here to download an application form

The Postgraduate Dean has relasesed a statment on MMC and MTAS in Northern Ireland; to view this statement please click here. 

For further information on Specialty Recruitment, please click here.

For updated information on the Specialty Recruitment Process please click here.

Please find below information on the Medical Women’s Federation; reasons for joining and application form along with the Cardiff spring meeting pack - program, registration form.

• Medical Women’s Federation Information
• How to join the Medical Women’s Federation
• MWF Spring Meeting Friday May 11th 2007 Programme
• MWF Spring Meeting Friday May 11th 2007 Registration Form

THE STATEMENT ON SPECIALTY RECRUITMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, IS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD FROM OUR SPECIALTY RECRUITMENT PAGE PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL INFORMATION ON SPECIALTY RECRUITMENT. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PROCESS AND TIMELINE FOR GENERAL PRACTICE REMAINS UNCHANGED.

You can now register for your 2007/08 Appraisal.  Please note that registration for 2006/07 Appraisal year is now closed.

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ARRANGING YOUR APPRAISAL

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Now Recruiting Foundation Year 2 Posts Commencing August 2007

For further information on how to apply for these posts please click here.

General Information for candidates invited for interview in Northern Ireland are now available for download; please click here.

Interview Specific information for candidates invited for interview in Northern Ireland are now available for download Please click here for the Adobe Version

Please click here for the Word Version

Guidance for reimbursement of travel expenses is now available for download; please click here.

To download the Expenses Claim Form for Interview Attendence, please click here

Vocational Training in General Dental Practice in Northern Ireland

We are seeking to recruit Trainers for the one-year Vocational Training Schemes which will commence in August 2007.

For further information please click here.

From the 1 Feb 2007 there is funding for an additional 5 GP ST1 posts increassing the number to 55.

Click here for further information on the number of posts available in Northern Ireland.

The number of Specialty Training posts available within the Northern Ireland Deanery from August 2007 is now available for download.  Please click here.

The Applicants Guide to Recruitment & Selection into Specialty Training 2007 (Northern Ireland) is now available for download. Please click here

The Specialty Training Interview dates are now available for download.  Please click here. Please be advised that these dates are subject to change.

Now recruiting for the following positions:

• Adviser in General Dental Practice (Vocational Training)
• Associate Adviser in General Dental Practice (Continuing Education)

For more information please click here.

General Professional Training Scheme

A 2 Year Longitudinal GPT Scheme with 4 places will commence on Wednesday 1 August 2007.  The closing date for applications for places on this scheme:

Thursday 8 February 2007 at 4.00pm and interviews will be held on Monday 5 & Tuesday March 2007.

A meet the Trainer event will take place on Saturday 10 March 2007 to give selected GPT Trainees the opportunity to meet the appointed Trainers.

Vocational Training Schemes   

For 2006/07 Northern Ireland will have 3 Vocational Training Schemes with 12 places on each.  The schemes will commence on Wednesday 1 August 2007.  The closing date for applications for VT places is:

Thursday 8 February 2007 at 4.00pm and interviews will be held on Monday 12 & Tuesday 13 March 2007.

Training practices will be appointed on 20-22 March 2007.  A meet the Trainer event will take place on Friday 30 & Saturday 31 March 2007 to give selected VT Trainees the opportunity to meet the appointed Trainers.

To apply for the GPT & VT Training Schemes, please download the following documents and return them to:  The Monitoring Officer, HR Department, NIMDTA, ‘Beechill House’, 42 Beechill Road, Belfast, BT8 7RL

Application Pack

• Cover Letter
• Application Form
• Job Description - Vocational Training
• Job Description - General Professional Training
• Personnel Specification

A Postgraduate Certificate in Education for Health Care Professionals course is being run by Queens University. 

For further details please download the flyer

For information on other courses click here.

204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) are holding a CPD Study day "Critical Care in the Evacuation Chain" on 31 March 2007 at Hydebank TA Centre, Belfast

Click here to download the flyer

The aim of the GP Returner Scheme is to attract back qualified GPs who may not currently be working in General Practice

These may be:
· Qualified GPs not working at all
· Qualified GPs who are working, but not within General Practice

Inevitably, the needs of each Returner will be different. Many will feel unsure about how competent they are to practice. It is agreed that any General Practitioner who has not been working in General Practice for the previous two years should undertake a period of Returner training.

Please note: Places on the scheme are limited and funding is dependent on the Returner being able to start training before the end of March 2007

For further information or to apply for the scheme please click here or contact Lynda Dickson on 028 9040 0001 or email lynda.dickson@nimdta.gov.uk

Are you interested in finding out about Vocational Training and General Professional Training in Northern Ireland?

An Information Day is being held on between 10am - 2pm on Thursday 28 December 2006 in the Larch Suite, Ramada Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast.

If you would like to attend please contact:

Gail Doak, Dental Administrator

NIMDTA, Beechill House, 42 Beechill Road, Belfast, BT8 7RL

Tel: 028 9040 0009 or Email: gail.doak@nimdta.gov.uk

We are seeking to recruit 36 Trainers for the one-year Vocational Training Schemes and 4 Trainers for the two-year General Professional Training Scheme, which will commence in August 2007.

Completed application forms must be returned by 4pm on Thursday 25 January 2007.

For further information please click here

GP APPRAISAL

Please click on the link below to register for your 2006/7 GP Appraisal.  You do not need a password to do this, nor do you need to "log in".

GP APPRAISEE PACK

(includes the list of GP Appraisers and Lead Appraisers)

If you wish to contact NIMDTA regarding GP Appraisal, please do not use the comment facility mentioned below.  Comments are shown on the website and can be read by anyone visiting it.  If you have an enquiry, please either e-mail or telephone.

E-mail: gpappraisal@nimdta.gov.uk
Tel: 9040 0020 / 9040 0032 / 9040 0021

The Specialty / GP Training person specification are now available for download.  Please click here.

In the forthcoming months the Agency is organising three roadshows for all Senior House Officers explaining the requirements for entry into Specialty Training.  The sessions are as follows:

• Wednesday 29 November 2006 - Lecture Theatre, Belfast City Hospital
• Tuesday 12 December 2006 - Lecture Theatre, Craigavon Area Hospital

Each session will commence with food on arrival at 5.30pm followed by a presentation and discussion forum from 6.30pm - 8.30pm.  If you would like to attend, download the reply slip by clicking here and return it to gillian.kirk@nimdta.gov.uk by Tuesday 21 November 2006.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ROAD SHOW ON TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2006 AT THE ROSS PARK HOTEL, KELLS HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Please download the Department of Health Statement on Recruitment and Selection to Specialist Training.

This file is also available on the MMC pages of the NIMDTA website.

The new GP ATHENA programme 2006 - 2007 has now been launched

To apply for ATHENA membership and courses please click on this link

If you would like to read further information about ATHENA please click on this link

The Autumn meeting of the Ulster Society of Internal Medicine will take place in the Mater Hospital, Belfast, Friday 20th October 2006 at 2.00pm.

For futher information please download the invitation letter

You are invited to submit abstract(s) of papers for presentation at the meeting.
Abstracts selected for presentation will be published in the Ulster Medical Journal and must be submitted electronically. For directions on electronic submission please download the Ulster Medical Journal Instructions

The closing date for receipt of abstracts is Friday 22nd September 2006. 

Palliative Medicine Study Day, 3 November 2006, Canada Room, Queens University Belfast.
Areas Covered Include Mental Capacity Act, renal dialysis abatement, psychiatric syndromes at the end of life, using opioids in habitual drug users and dilemmas around witholding / withdrawing treatments.
For further information please download the Programme and application form

The British Geriatrics Society and the Specialist Advisory Committee for Geriatric Medicine will be running their annual information day on 30 November 2006.  The day is aimed at all those interested in training in the specialty and last years meeting was attended by everyone from trainees to Postgraduate Deans.

Click here for a copy of the agenda for this years meeting, along with an application form for a place.  This year the conference will be held at the Royal College of Physicians, London and the fee for attendence is £50.

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Position: Senior Medical Officer
Division: Clinical
Circa Salary: £70,000
Closing Date: 01 September 2006

For More information please email jobs@mhra.gsi.gov.uk or fax 020 7084 2522

To download further information and apply on-line visit www.mhra.gov.uk. Similarly you can download an application at this address and send your completed form via email to jobs@mhra.gsi.gov.uk or by fax 020 7084 2522.  Electronic applications are strongly encouraged.

St Mark’s Hospital & Academic Institute are running its 4^th Annual International Congress – Frontiers in Intestinal & Colorectal Disease from 29^th - 30^th November. We are delighted that this year the congress will be followed by the Festschrift of Professor John Nicholls on Friday 1^st December.

This meeting has grown tremendously over the last 4 years and is multidisciplinary in nature.

Click here to download the Programme and Application Form.

Please follow link for Bowel Cancer Conference Flier.

Register your interest today by emailing bowelscreeningconf@actioncancer.org

For further information telephone:Teresa Scott 028 9080 3348

Unfortunately the GP Appraisal Roadshow due to be held in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry on Wednesday 28th June, has had to be cancelled. Further dates will be available in due course and will be advertised on the NIMDTA website.

Don’t miss your chance to help shape the future for postgraduate medical education and training in the UK

For more information please download the press release or visit the PMETB website.

     GP VTS RECRUITMENT FOR 2006 IS NOW COMPLETED

The next GP VTS Recruitment will commence in February 2007

The number of 2007 GP VTS vacancies will be available at the end of January 2007

If you wish general information regarding a career in General Practice please visit the following website www.gprecruitment.org.uk

2007 G.P. Recruitment dates are as follows

(these dates are provisional at present and may change)

The G.P.VTS Recruitment Process is a 3 Stage Competency Based Recruitment Process

 Link to GP Recruitment website

The Flier for the International Medical Graduates Induction Day can now be downloaded from our website.  Click Here for the flier.  This course is open to doctors who have newly arrived in the UK and are working in Northern Ireland. For further details please contact geraldine.mccullough@nimdta.gov.uk

For more information relevant to International Medical Graduates, including changes to the imigration rules along with presentations from last year’s Induction Day please visit the International Medical Graduates section of the website.

APPRAISAL ROADSHOWS - MONDAY 5th and 26th JUNE - FULL

Appraisal Roadshows to be held on Monday 5th June and Monday 26th June at NIMDTA, Beechill Road, Belfast (7pm to 9pm) are now full. Further dates are available by clicking on the link below or by contacting the NIMDTA Appraisal Team on 9040 0020 / 9040 0032 / 9040 0021.

 Link to further GP Appraisal Roadshows.

The next Teacher Training for Specialist Registrars course is on 30 May 2006.
For further information please download the flyer

For information on other hospital courses please visit the courses web page.

 Click here for GP Appraisal Roadshows - April to June

The GP Appraisal Roadshow due to be held in Altnagelvin Hospital, Londonderry on 10 April has been cancelled. It is hoped to run another Roadshow on 21 June in Omagh. Please watch website for further details.

 Follow link to GP Appraisal page for further information.

Click the link to view the document  Postgraduate Medical Education: Moving Forward

Positions as Trainers on the 2006-2007 Vocational Training Schemes in General Dental Practice are still available.

Please see the attached advertisement for further details. To request and application pack please contact Gillian Kirk on 02890 400024, between 9:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday. Alternatively a pack can be downloaded from here:

Letter to Applicant

Application Form

Job Description

Person Specification

Practice Assessment

Dental Dean Contract

Full-time Contract

Facts on Finance

Idemnity Letter

If you would like to discuss any aspect of Vocational Training the VT Advisers, Mark Barry or Neale Armstrong would be happy to assist.  They can be contacted on 02890 400017.

Please note the closing date of 4:00pm Friday 24th March 2006

NIMDTA is piloting a centralised recruitment system for the appointment of dental VDP’s to the successful Dental Training Practices.

A ‘Meet the Trainer Event’ will be held on Saturday 25th March 2006 from 10:00am to 2:00pm in the Malone Suite, Ramada Hotel, Belfast, to give Trainers and Trainees the opportunity to meet.

Trainees will have the opportunity to visit individual practices if they so wish prior to this date.

New plans for the reform of the Health Service in Northern Ireland have been put out today by Health Minister Shaun Woodward MP.

If implemented the plans will scrap the present 18 HSS Trusts and cut these to just 5. It is planned that the new Trusts will assume full operational control in April 2007.

The operational date of the new Trusts will be 1st April 2007. The paper invites views on the draft legislation giving effect to the Minister’s proposals for the Trust rationalisation.

Helath Minister Shaun Woodward described the move as "the next step in putting patients first".

"This massive cut in the bureaucracy will save tens of millions of pounds. I will ensure the money goes into the front line services and new drug treatments.

I want patients to know that we will waste no more time in reforming health care. I want the new Trusts up and running by the Spring of next year. These regulations are essential if we genuinely want to get money out of the bureaucracy and into helping patients."

An explanatory paper has been prepared to accompany the consultation and this paper and copies of the draft regulations are available on the Departments website:

www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/health_and_social_services/reviewpublicadmin.htm

The consultation period ends on 7th April 2006.

Health Minister, Shaun Woodward today endorsed the new framework for the way doctors will be trained in future.  The framework is the latest stage of the  Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) initiative.  This initiative is under the direction of the MMC UK Strategy Group, on which Northern Ireland is represented.

Commenting on the new proposals the Minister said, "I am fully supportive of the further reforms announced today by my colleague, Lord Warner. These proposals are fully in line with developments in the wider Health Service generally and are firmly based in providing better care for patients. 
They will achieve this through producing doctors who are not only highly competent in the skills we traditionally associate with doctors, but are also effective team workers and are clear about their contribution to a safe and effective service to patients."

Work is ongoing with all stakeholders at national and local level to further develop specialty training within the framework.  New specialty training programmes will be introduced from August 2007 when the first cohort of foundation doctors complete the Foundation Programme.

Notes to Editors:
1. The Minister’s announcement coincides with a statement on the proposed new framework by Lord Warner, Minister of State for NHS Delivery.

2. Click the link to view the document "Defining the Diagram" – a page of simple definitions that may help wider understanding of what the new model means in plain English.

3. The Modernising Medical Careers UK Strategy Group, which comprises representation from all four UK health departments and other stakeholders, is overseeing the development of structured ‘run-through’ training.

4. Postgraduate training locally is managed and supported by the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency. The Postgraduate Dean is Dr Terry McMurray.

Click the link to view more information on MMC

Source: Department of Health Published Tuesday, 9 August, 2005 - 09:40

New skills for doctors of the future in an NHS which puts patients at the centre

A groundbreaking change in postgraduate medical training begins this week as thousands of medical school graduates begin their careers in the NHS as part of a new foundation training programme.

For the first time ever, all junior doctors who are starting their first year after medical school (previously known as the pre-registration house officer or PRHO year) will have to demonstrate explicitly that they are competent in a number of areas including communication and consultation skills, patient safety and teamworking, as well as the more traditional clinical skills. Around 4850 Trainees are starting the Foundation Programme this week.

The two-year Foundation Programme replaces the existing PRHO year and first year of Senior House Officer (SHO) training and will give Trainees exposure to a range of career placements across a broad spectrum of specialties. All Trainees will also have access to an Educational Supervisor, as well as a Clinical Supervisor for each placement. The programme has as its focus patient safety: progression through the programme is based on the achievement of competence, rather than time served.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Bill Kirkup said,

"At the heart of this new training programme is quality of medical care.  By making the continuous development of skills and knowledge central to training, and by making explicit the standards of competence that doctors reach before they progress, the Foundation Programme will improve patient safety as well as medical careers.  Because these changes have been introduced systematically across the health service, patients can be assured that doctors at each stage of their career have demonstrated their ability to practise safely and effectively at that level."

Health Minister Lord Warner said:

 “I welcome the introduction of the Foundation Programme. This is just the beginning of a much wider ranging change in medical training, driven by the needs of patients and the NHS.  As healthcare changes, the Foundation Programme will ensure that doctors going through the system have a good solid base from which to progress in the modern NHS which puts patients at the centre.”

In the first year of the programme, foundation doctors will still undertake placements in medicine and surgery, as required for General Medical Council (GMC) registration. Many Trusts are now offering three four-month placements, which means that in the first year, many Trainee doctors will be able to experience an additional placement in another specialty. The foundation doctors’ competence will be assessed against the standards set out in the Foundation Programme curriculum by senior healthcare professionals in their Trusts.

Dr Cate O’Neill, F2 pilot Trainee said: “I was part of a Foundation Programme pilot that was evaluating the new assessment methods. Initially, the thought of having consultants assess me was quite intimidating, but it became easier after the first one. The best part about the new assessment process is the opportunity for immediate feedback and the ability to bring up problems in a safe and supportive atmosphere.”

Dr Laurence Gant, clinical lead at the Homerton Hospital said:

“The Foundation Programme Trainees will experience a co-ordinated training and teaching programme over the next two years which conforms to the national curriculum.  This, together with ongoing teaching in the clinical environment, will mean that they reach a proven level of competency in a wide variety of skills and knowledge that will help to ensure optimum patient care and safety. The teaching programme recognises the multidisciplinary nature of the Trainees work environment and will also be delivered to, and with the help of, the nursing and allied health professionals.’

The second year of the programme will provide new opportunities for Trainee doctors to gain experience in primary care, shortage specialties (those specialties that are actively recruiting) and in academic medicine. Assessment of doctors’ competence will be required throughout their training in order for them to progress to further training in areas in which they wish to specialise.

Training will be organised and delivered by postgraduate deaneries through new foundation schools, which will bring together medical schools, the local Deanery, Trusts (mental health, acute and PCTs) and other organisations (e.g. hospices) to offer training in a range of different settings and clinical environments.

Each foundation doctor will have a dedicated Educational Supervisor who will be responsible for supporting them and ensuring they have appropriate learning opportunities. Each Deanery will also ensure that foundation doctors have access to career advice. Modernising Medical Careers, the Department of Health initiative behind the training reforms, has just published a career management paper for medical schools, Trusts and Deaneries for their career advisors.

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