Category: Latest_News

NIMDTA, in partnership with the HSC Leadership Centre, held its open evening for the 2023-2024 ADEPT Clinical Leadership Programme on Tuesday 24^th January 2023.

The event was highly attended with representation from current medical Trainees, present and past ADEPT Fellows, Host Organisation Senior Managers, and members of NIMDTA Senior Management Team.

Dr Camille Harron, Interim Postgraduate Dean and Director of Education, NIMDTA provided the welcome address and outlined how successful the ADEPT Programme has been since its inception in 2016, and how it continues to grow and adapt to new and emerging trends throughout medical education.

Current ADEPT Fellows then held an engaging Q&A session which provided insight into current host organisation projects, as well as answering a range of practical questions associated with taking a year out of training.

Attendees were treated to a very special presentation from Dr Gareth Lewis, Consultant in Acute Medicine in NHSCT, where he described his experience being one of the first cohort of ADEPT clinical leadership fellows. He provided practical examples of how the skills, contacts and relationships made during his ADEPT year remain relevant today, and how they are utilised within areas of his current work such as promoting positive change, embracing innovation and leading various improvement initiatives.

Following this, Dr Smyth presented an overview of the application and recruitment process.

The event concluded with a presentation from Lorraine McCurdy, Senior Consultant from the HSC Leadership Centre outlining the structured leadership training programme provided by the Leadership Centre and Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM) in addition to the opportunities to network and learn with healthcare colleagues.

Commenting on the Open Evening success Dr Camille Harron, Interim Postgraduate Dean and Director of Education, NIMDTA said,

“It is always encouraging to receive keen interest every year regarding the opportunities the ADEPT Programme has to offer. The Programme aims to provide Health and Social Care NI (HSC NI) with doctors who have the knowledge, skills and experience to offer leadership in their workplace and more widely in HSC NI whenever they complete training. During their fellowships, the fellows will be working with senior leaders in host organisations in Northern Ireland in an apprenticeship model.

The programme is open to senior trainees in medical or dental training programmes in NI interested in taking a one-year period of time ‘Out of Programme for Experience (OOPE)’ to develop leadership, management and organisational skills and contribute to improving the delivery of healthcare and medical education in NI.

I look forward to reviewing uptake from our Trainees to the Programme as the application process progresses. I wish all applicants the very best of luck!”

To view further information and to apply visit: www.nimdta.gov.uk/adept/

The Intrepid Course Manager portal is being upgraded to ‘Accent Course Manager’ on Monday 9 January 2023

What is the difference between the ‘Intrepid’ and ‘Accent’ Course Manager Systems?

Accent is a new version of the Course Manager solution used by NIMDTA, which has been modernised and has a refreshed appearance.

Accent will continue to provide an online portal for delegates to book a place on a course, provide evaluation after attendance, and then download an electronic certificate (as many times as you need to).  Where a fee is applicable, online payment is possible using a Debit or Credit Card.  It reduces the administrative time required to manage bookings, enabling us to provide you with a better service.

Users may self-register by clicking ‘Register’ and then following the simple instructions.

You may browse all the courses on offer without registering or logging in, however you will need to be logged in to book a place.  You can search for the courses relevant to you by using the search filters provided – by choosing your “Delegate type” in the search filter you will be able to see those courses that are available to you, or you can filter further by “Category” or “Keyword”, for example.

Will I still have access to Intrepid?

Yes, all Users will still be able to log into their Intrepid portal.

What happens to my Intrepid Profile/course history I have completed?

All your booking history, evaluations, certificates etc will be accessible via the new Accent portal.

What happens if I have booked a course via Intrepid, but the course date is scheduled after Monday 9^th January?

If you are an existing Intrepid user, you will be able to log in to Accent Course Manager with your existing Intrepid logon – your previous bookings, evaluations and certificates will all be accessible.

All bookings linked to your Intrepid portal will be migrated across to your new Accent profile.

Will I need to register a new login?

Users with an existing Intrepid login be able to use the same login details for Accent Course Manager.  Once the upgrade is complete, anyone trying to access the Intrepid Course Manager system will be redirected automatically to the Accent system.

All previous bookings, evaluations and certificates will still be accessible.

New Users can self-register by clicking ‘Register’ and then follow the simple instructions.

What action do I need to take now?

It is recommended that you ensure your personal details, to include your Professional Registration details, are up-to-date and recorded on your Intrepid account.

CLICK HERE to access the ‘Delegate User Guide’ for Accent Course Manager

Should you require any further information please contact: systems.nimdta@hscni.net

NIMDTA ADEPT Fellows host Breakfast Session with UK Chief and Deputy Chief Medical Officers

NIMDTA and the ADEPT Clinical Leadership Fellows were delighted to host members of the Chief and Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO and DCMO) teams from across Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales for a breakfast Q&A session with a cohort of doctors in training at the Stormont Hotel on Friday 16^th December 2022.

After informal introductions over breakfast, Dr Lourda Geoghegan, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland, welcomed a selection of trainee ambassadors and forum members to the event, with various specialties and stages of training represented. Trainees were joined by Professor Sir Michael McBride, the Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland; Professor Sir Gregor Smith, the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland; and Sir Frank Atherton, the Chief Medical Officer for Wales, alongside Dr Geoghegan and Professor Marion Bain, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Scotland.

During the event the CMOs and DCMOs provided an overview of their own journeys into medical leadership positions and shared insights and learnings from their experiences.

The topics of conversation were varied and included discussions around trainee wellbeing, international medical graduates and, postgraduate training and recruitment.

Dr Michael Breen, GP Trainee and ADEPT Clinical Leadership Fellow based in the Department of Health, said “This event was a unique opportunity for trainees to engage and interact with senior healthcare leaders from across the UK. It was a real privilege to hear their reflections and see what learnings we can take away as trainees to apply to our own leadership journeys.”

For further information on the ADEPT Clinical Leadership Fellow programme contact: valuedtrainees@hscni.net

The 2023 BMA MEDFASH prize for improving the quality of HIV and/ or sexual healthcare will open for applications on 1 January 2023. The prize awards £2,000 in recognition of work that has improved the quality of HIV and/ or sexual healthcare in the UK.

The prize is open to any health or social care organisation actively involved in the delivery of HIV and/or sexual healthcare in the UK. Organisations may be nominated or self-nominated and should be currently working in HIV and/ or sexual healthcare in the UK.

For more details on the prize, the assessment criteria and terms and conditions, please see the flyer below:

• BMA Foundation – MEDFASH leaflet 2023

To apply please email your application documents to researchgrants@bma.org.uk by Friday 3 March 2023.

• 2023 BMA Foundation MEDFASH application form

The BMA Foundation awards research grants each year (totalling approximately £910,000) to encourage and further medical research in a variety of areas. Applications are invited from doctors and research scientists and can be for either research in progress or prospective research.

All BMA Foundation grants will be available to apply for online on the BMA Foundation website from 1 January 2023. The application deadline is 3 March 2023.

A copy of the BMA Foundation grants poster is available below:

• 2023 BMA Foundation Poster

If you have any queries please contact researchgrants@bma.org.uk or telephone 020 7383 6341.

On Wednesday 12 October 2022, Dr Ian Steele completed his final day as Postgraduate Medical Dean and Director of Education for NIMDTA.

Ian was appointed as NIMDTA TPD for Geriatric Medicine in 2002 after having been a consultant for 5 years in the specialty. Ian continued in this role until 2007 where upon he was appointed as Deputy Head of School of Medicine and TPD for Core Medicine when the NIMDTA Specialty Schools were established. Subsequently, Ian was appointed as Associate Dean for Hospital Specialty Training and Quality Management in 2013. During this time he was also appointed to the role of Co-Editor of the Gold Guide in 2016 and became a member of COPMeD in 2017.

From May 2018, Ian began working full-time at NIMDTA after being appointed as Director of Professional Development in addition to the role of Associate Dean/Director of Hospital Specialty Training.

It was in October 2020, that Ian was then appointed as Postgraduate Medical Dean and Director of Education for NIMDTA.

Commenting on his final day, Dr Steele said,

“NIMDTA has been a ‘home’ for me for a large portion of my career and I will miss everyone deeply. My time with NIMDTA has been extremely rewarding, and I am thankful to have worked with a wonderful variety of talented and inspirational people throughout my tenure.

As outgoing PGD I am extremely proud of the relationships we have built and strengthened over the years with stakeholders such as all the Health Trusts across NI, the Department of Health NI, the local Universities and the other postgraduate education bodies within the UK.

It cannot be underestimated how much of a key role NIMDTA plays in the training of our doctors and dentists, and the impact we have on all their careers. For example, I am grateful to have been part of introducing amazing initiatives such as the NIMDTA ‘ADEPT’ Programme which allows doctors in training to be ‘within’ NIMDTA and see first-hand the work that goes into supporting our Trainees and driving projects that promote continual development and improvement.

I am immensely proud of the many challenges we have overcome over the years, with most notably our ability to maintain delivery of training throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. I am also proud that during my tenure I was able to make our voice heard loud and clear within medical and dental training education forums at local and national levels.

I am delighted that Dr Camille Harron has been appointed Interim PGD, and I have no doubt that she will successfully progress the work of NIMDTA in the coming weeks and months.

Thank you to everyone for their friendship and generosity over the years, and I wish all our team members all the very best for the future!”

Dr Camille Harron, Interim Postgraduate Medical Dean and Director of Education at NIMDTA said, “Ian has been a fantastic role model throughout his time at NIMDTA.  As Postgraduate Dean, he has provided decisive and insightful leadership through a period of significant challenges.  His expertise, wisdom and mentorship of colleagues on all matters related to postgraduate training has been greatly appreciated both locally and on a national level.  His influence will continue in the minds of those who have worked with and trained under him and in his new role within the HSCNI.  I wish him every future success and happiness.”

Mr Mark McCarey, Chief Executive at NIMDTA said, “I am personally indebted to Ian for the tremendous leadership that he has provided in his role through the most testing of times.  Pandemic disruption, leadership transition and significant changes to our brief have presented during this time.  Ian is gifted with a thoughtful and thorough manner, which have been invaluable to NIMDTA during this time. I would like to wish Ian every happiness in this new phase of life, and have no doubt that he will be successful at all that he turns his attention to.”

Mrs Denise Hughes, Senior Education Manager at NIMDTA said, “I would like thank Ian for his continued support and leadership to NIMDTA’s educators and education management staff throughout all his roles, in particular over the past few years as Postgraduate Dean. He has continued to be an advocate for trainees and training in Northern Ireland both on a regional and national basis.  On behalf of the training departments, I wish him well in his next chapter.’  

The General Medical Council (GMC), UK statutory education bodies (SEBs) and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) have issued an updated statement in relation to the temporary derogations to medical education and training for the period of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic – please see below:

Statement on continued derogations in medical education and training

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(L-R) Professor Pascal McKeown, Head of School and Dean of Education School of Medicine, Denistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queens University; Professor Louise Dubras, Foundation Dean of the School of Medicine, University of Ulster; and Dr Ian Steele, Postgraduate Medical Dean and Director of Education, NIMDTA welcome Health Minister for Northern Ireland, Mr Robin Swann to deliver the Keynote Speech at this years’ Clinical Education Day.

NIMDTA, in partnership with its undergraduate colleagues from Queen’s University and University of Ulster, were delighted to host the annual ‘Clinical Education Day’ conference on Thursday 22 September 2022.

This year’s conference was titled ‘Training and Retaining our Workforce’ and the event was the first large ‘in-person’ conference organised by NIMDTA since 2019. It was clearly evident from ‘the buzz’ of conversations, smiles and handshakes, throughout the day that all delegates were very pleased to be in attendance.

The conference is targeted at the medical and dental professionals who provide leadership in undergraduate and postgraduate education of doctors and dentists in training in Northern Ireland.

Dr Ian Steele, Postgraduate Dean and Director of Education for NIMDTA said,

“We were delighted to attract such a high calibre of national and regional medical and dental leaders and educators to contribute to what was a varied, stimulating, informative and challenging programme. The aim of this conference is always to inform, equip and inspire Northern Ireland’s Medical and Dental Educators.

It was a privilege to have the Minister of Health Robert Swann deliver the Key Note Address and highlight our achievements including “maintaining the highest standards of clinical education and training despite the myriad of challenges presented by the pandemic… and grateful that, despite the immediate demands of service pressures aggravated by the unique challenges of the pandemic, we are pivotal in shaping individuals’ future career choices and in developing their long term commitment to our healthcare system in Northern Ireland.”

I was also delighted to attend extremely engaging and thought-provoking presentations from inspirational speakers throughout the day.

The event was also a fantastic opportunity to meet colleagues face-to-face and network throughout the day, and I look forward to further ‘in-person’ events.”

To view a copy of the event programme which includes full details on all the presentations and speakers at the event click HERE.

To view pictures, Speaker Comments and delegate reactions from the day, visit our Twitter page at: (5) NIMDTA (@_NIMDTA) / Twitter or search Twitter using the hashtag #ClinicalEducationDay2022

Health Minister for Northern Ireland, Mr Robin Swann delivers his Keynote speech to a capacity crowd during Clinical Education Day 2022

Health Minister for Northern Ireland, Mr Robin Swann delivers his Keynote speech to a capacity crowd during Clinical Education Day 2022

Please note that NIMDTA offices will be closed on Monday 19 September 2022 following the announcement that King Charles III has declared this day a bank holiday for the Queen’s state funeral.

The King confirmed the Order during the ceremony in London proclaiming him Monarch, in order to allow the public to pay their respects and commemorate the Queen’s reign.

Any planned activity for this day will be rescheduled and colleagues notified accordingly.

NIMDTA will re-open again on Tuesday 20 September 2022.

For further information regarding the bank holiday announcement, please visit:

Bank holiday announced for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral on Monday 19 September – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Mr Mark McCarey, Chief Executive and Dr Ian Steele, Postgraduate Medical Dean & Director of Education NIMDTA pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II following news of her death on Thursday 8 September 2022.

“On behalf of NIMDTA we wish to express our profound sadness on the news that Her Majesty The Queen has died.

Her Majesty The Queen was truly inspirational and voiced unwavering support of the NHS on many occasions during her lifetime in public service.

We extend sincere condolences to The King and to all members of the Royal Family at this time.”