Internal Medicine Training
The Internal Medicine (IM) Stage 1 curriculum was approved by the GMC on 8 December 2017 and will replace Core Medical Training (CMT) from August 2019. Internal Medicine Training (IMT) will form the first three years of post-foundation training and, for the main specialties supporting acute hospital care, an indicative 12 months of further Internal Medicine Training will be integrated flexibly with specialty training in a dual programme.
Further information will be added in due course.
Curriculum - Internal Medicine Training
Mersey
Welcome to Internal Medicine Training
There are two Programme Directors for Internal Medicine Training (IMT) covering the Mersey, Cheshire and Isle of Man zone of HEENW. Our role is to ensure that the training you are given in all core medical specialties is of high quality and well-coordinated. Each year you will each be trained by a number of Consultant Physicians, skilled not only in their own fields but also in supporting education for medical trainees. You will also discover that you receive very valuable training from non-consultant grade doctors, senior trainees and senior nursing staff during your placements.
You may well have dealings with both Training Programme Directors during your time in IMT, but each hospital Trust will be covered primarily by one of us and this person should be your first point of contact if you need our input with anything.
In all your posts you will have both clinical supervisors and educational supervisors. The latter will meet with you regularly for appraisal and supervision of training, although we rely on you to instigate the meetings. We expect a high level of commitment from you in your role as adult learners taking, responsibility to ensure that you progress with your training at a satisfactory rate.
Apart from ourselves and those you will work closely with in your Trusts, there is a further supportive network of medical educationalists who can help you if necessary, including the College Tutors and Directors of Medical Education in each of your Trusts.
The Mersey IMT programme offers excellent training which will provide the breadth and depth of medical expertise you require before embarking on more specialised training, provided you use your opportunities wisely.
Good luck!
Training Programme Directors
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Dr Nadine Carroll Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen NHS Trust |
Dr Rob Egdell East Cheshire NHS Trust |
IMT Zonal Administrator - Mersey, Cheshire and Isle of Man
Nicola Moffitt
Regatta Place, Brunswick Business Park, Liverpool
Key Contacts
Postgraduate Dean - Professor Jane Mamelok
Head of School of Medicine - Dr John Anderton
Associate Head of School - Professor James Barrett
Associate Head of School - Professor Rosemary Morgan
IMT Education Lead - Dr Gurinder Tack and Dr Dinesh Damodaran
HR Lead - Jayne Ashton
College Tutors
Wirral - Dr Simon Whittingham-Jones and Dr Helen Kalaher
Clatterbridge Cancer Centre - Dr Joanne Cliffe
Royal Liverpool - Dr Shahed Ahmed and Dr Pallavi Hegde
Liverpool Heart and Chest - Dr Archana Rao
Aintree - Dr Dan Komrower and Dr Gurinder Tack
Walton Centre - Dr Dinesh Damodoran
Countess of Chester - Dr Haika Shoo
Leighton - Dr Michelle Kidd
Macclesfield - Dr Jo Gallagher
Nobles - Dr John Thomas
Southport - Dr Beth Glackin
Warrington - Dr Amir Baluwala
Whiston - Dr Karen Short and Dr Katie Clarke
Educational Supervisor
- Educational supervisor is also usually your Clinical supervisor in first post of the year
- Educational supervisor stays the same all year even if you move site
- New clinical supervisor with each post i.e. second and third posts
- You should have a sit-down meeting (Induction Appraisal) with your clinical supervisor in the first 2-3 weeks of the post.
Before the Meeting:
- Sign educational, health and probity agreements
- Fill in induction appraisal form (save not submit)
- Fill in a PDP
- Fill in ALS details in Certificates section
- Take along your ALS certificate to the appraisal so dates can be verified
- Arrange next meeting!
IMT Training Pathway
The specialties have been split into two groups which follow different training pathways:
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Group 1 Dual training with Internal Medicine |
Group 2 Single CCT |
IM1 - Three four-month posts mostly, including Geriatric Medicine
IM2 - Critical Care/Out patient and Ambulatory Care
Posts: 6 months/3 months 3 months (Critical Care)
IM3 - A supported Registrar year
Greater involvement in the Acute Unselected Take
Expected to “lead” the unselected take
MRCP (UK) before the end of IMT3
Will only be placed in NW hospitals where there is support from a more senior medical registrar.
The IMT Decision Aid can be found here
Procedural Skills Training Videos
Information regarding procedural training videos can be accessed here
The password can be gained by emailing the IMT Zonal Administrator
IMT Induction Booklet
IMT Induction Booklet - can be viewed here
Study Leave
All information regarding study leave should be accessed here
The study leave process must be followed even if you are attending the course on your day off and require funding
A full-time trainee is eligible for 30 days. Any trainee who trains at LTFT receives study leave days pro rata
You must apply for study leave to attend Regional Teaching half-days or the QI Showcase and it is vital to ensure that you are able to attend by asking your supervising Consultant for patient safety. Study leave is discretionary
Five days are taken off the 30-day allowance for regional teaching
Always use this study leave form here
Trust HR Department
• Organise rotas
• Need to know if you are off sick as does your Consultant
• Sickness – if you miss more than 2 weeks work in one year you may need additional training time in IMT (although cases will be considered individually)
• Absences section in the e portfolio
• They collate leave requests although consent for leave dealt with departmentally
• Annual leave = 27 days per year.
• Plan ahead – minimum 6 weeks notice
Lead Employer - Health, Work and Wellbeing
• Health assessments and immunisation
• Counselling
• Psychiatric and psychological and health support
• Health education and promotion
• You can self-refer
• Website: https://sharedservices.sthk.nhs.uk/health-work-and-wellbeing/
• Email: Well.being@sthk.nhs.uk
• Telephone: 0151 290 4070
Raising Concerns
If you have any concerns regarding any aspect of your training you should raise them immediately
Locally first - Trust:
- Educational Supervisor
- Director of Medical Education
- Medical Education Manager
- Guardian of Safe Working
- Guardian of Safe Speaking
School of Medicine:
- Training Programme Director or IMT Zonal Administrator
Revalidation
All information regarding revalidation can be accessed here
- The Postgraduate Dean is the Responsible Officer for all trainees, including those out of programme and on statutory leave
- Trainee revalidation is via the ARCP process
- Completed ARCPs – outcomes 2 or 3 usually lead to a positive recommendation for revalidation
- Deferral of revalidation sometimes happens and is not detrimental
- Every trainee must complete and submit a form R as part of the ARCP every year
IMT Teaching Programme
Morning sessions will run from 9.30am-12.30pm, with registration 9-9.30am. Unless stated, afternoon sessions will run from 2-5pm with registration 1.30-2pm. The programme will be updated shortly.
| Chester - Education Centre |
30 September 2020 2 - 5pm |
Medico-Legal/Post COVID world |
| Arrowe Park - Lecture Theatre, Education Centre |
7 October 2020 9 - 12.30 |
Gastro / Geriatrics /Stroke |
| Crewe - Education Centre |
28 October 2020 1.30 - 4.30pm |
QI / Headache / Allergy |
| Southport - Education Centre |
June 2021 Date TBC |
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| LUHFT - Broadgreen Hospital Education Centre |
1 Dec 2020 1 - 4.30pm |
Acute Med |
| Warrington - Education Centre |
2 March 2021 12.30 - 5pm |
Medical Problems in Pregnancy |
| Aintree - Lecture Theatre, Clinical Science Building |
March 2021 Date TBC |
Haematology |
| RLUH - Lecture Theatre, Education Centre |
8 April 2021 2 - 5pm |
Diabetes and Endocrinology / Renal |
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QI Showcase - Venue TBC |
May 2021 Date TBC |
QI Showcase |
| Whiston - Education Centre |
27 May 2021 1.30 - 4.30pm |
Palliative Care |
| LHCH - Education Centre |
12 November 2021 1.30 - 4.30pm |
Cardio / Respiratory / Med Stats |
| WCNN - Education Centre |
14 July 2021 2 - 5pm |
Neurology |
August
Post PACES Trainees will also benefit from the Broadgreen Acute/General Medicine Programme (SpR GIM Programme) (Contact Dr Sid McNulty).
All Trainees should attend their local Trust Education sessions (Contact College Tutor).
Royal College of Physicians – Mersey Regional Office
Teach-ins
The Mersey RCP office runs a monthly teach-in programme at the Liverpool Medical Institution on the first Tuesday of the month (excluding January and August). Attendees can book a place online at www.rcplondon.ac.uk from 2 weeks before the teach-in. Registration is from 6 – 6.30 pm. The teach-in starts at 6.30pm and closes at 8.30 pm. There is no charge to attend.
Each teach-in focuses on a different medical specialty and aims to provide an update on advances in clinical practice for doctors in training.
Contact Mersey@rcplondon.ac.uk for more information.
Mock PACES Examination
The Mersey RCP office runs 1 or 2 Mock PACES examinations each diet. The cost to take part is £100.00 per candidate.
The aim is to test candidates’ ability to demonstrate in a clinical setting the knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate for a physician who is eligible to take PACES and is completing Core Medical Training.
The mock PACES examination consists of five clinical stations moving round each station at regular timed intervals until they have completed the cycle. Run in accordance with MRCP(UK) regulations to give real-life experience of examination conditions, it will provide candidates with an opportunity to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses under the pressure of close observation and to identify common and repeated simple mistakes which can be easily corrected.
Previous attendees to the mock PACES examinations have found them very useful in their exam preparations.
The next date will be TBC. Those that are interested can send an email to Mersey@rcplondon.ac.uk
RCP Updates in Medicine
The Mersey RCP office runs a Regional Update in Medicine and an Acute Medicine Update each year. These are 1 day conferences attracting 5 CPD points.
The programme is relevant to doctors in training.
Contact Mersey@rcplondon.ac.uk for more information.
Courses and Events
Forthcoming relating to the RCP - Mersey Region can be found on their website here.
Core/Mandatory Courses and Meetings
For Internal Medicine Training the courses/training identified in the table below are recommended.
- The ALS course is mandatory to ensure you are always up to date.
- We need you to attend 70% of the Regional IMT Teaching and poor attendance can result in a poor outcome at the ARCP.
- The other courses identified are largely related to obtaining the MRCP exam. Look under ‘Courses and events’ for details.
- Each Trust will have its own study leave rules and funding limits. You should arrange your study leave with those guidelines in mind.
General (Internal) Medicine (IMT1+2/ST1+2)
| Year of Training | Description of Event | Frequency | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| To avoid expiry | ALS | To keep up to date | - |
| Every Year | IMT monthly Regional Teaching | x10/year (must attend at least 70%) | - |
| Depending on progress towards MRCP | MRCP part 1 course | - | Desirable |
| MRCP part 2 course | - | Desirable | Desirable |
| PACES course | - | Desirable | Desirable |
| Ongoing | LMI Evening teaching Sessions | Monthly |
Desirable (can count towards annual teaching requirements in CMT) |
| IMT2/ST2 | Teaching Course | Once | Desirable |
| Ongoing | RCP Regional Update in Medicine Meeting | Annually |
Desirable (can count towards annual teaching requirements in CMT) |
Further information
Training in the Isle of Man
Those of you training in, or wishing to train, in the Isle of Man should watch this informative video filmed by Mark Roberts at the Medical Education Centre in Nobles
North Western
Training Programme Directors
South Cumbria and Lancshire Sector
Dr Simon Howell
Royal Preston Hospital
North Sector
Dr Andrew Robinson
Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
South Sector
Dr Pippa Newton
University Hospital of South Manchester
Overview of Programme
The CMT programme builds on the traditional excellence of SHO training in medicine in the North West region, including the larger training programmes previously centred at Hope Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary, North Manchester General Hospital, Royal Preston Hospital and Wythenshawe Hospital.
The training programme is run in three zones (Lancashire and Cumbria Zone; Greater Manchester North & West Zone; and Greater Manchester Central, South & East Zone) to afford proximity of placement hospitals for all trainees.
The two-year CMT programme delivers training based upon the JRCPTB CMT curriculum, with the majority of posts involving both district general hospital and teaching hospital placements.
There is a wide range of training paths affording experience in the main medical specialties. These training paths also afford the possibility of individual focus with choice suiting differing career specialty plans.
General Description of Rotation
The three programme zones, while providing the same high standards, each offer differing flavours of training. There are four trusts with seven sites in Lancashire and Cumbria; four trusts and seven sites in Greater Manchester North & West; and six trusts and sites in Central Manchester South & East.
Successful applicants are asked to express a preference between the different training tracks, to suit individual interests and career plans. Allocation to tracks is on the basis of expressed preference and interview score.
Each zone has 24 training paths, involving six four-month placements. These placements will involve at least one year in the main medical sub-specialties (geriatric medicine [care of the elderly], chest medicine, endocrinology/diabetes, gastroenterology, and cardiology).
Each path will provide 16-20 months of acute medical experience, with at least eight months of unselected acute medical 'take'. The majority of trainees will be based in one site for each year of the programme.
Each training path will allow a sub-specialist training focus for at least one four-month placement. This will be either cardiology, haematology, intensive care, liver unit, neurology, oncology, renal medicine, rheumatology, specialist chest medicine, infectious diseases, or palliative medicine.
Educational Opportunities
CMT curriculum-based protected teaching programmes are in place for CT1 and CT2 trainees, building on the mature individual trust and multi-trust teaching programmes already in place. Skills Training Days are provided separately for CT1 and CT2 level trainees.
There is an active and successful NW regional Royal College of Physicians programme of education, including teach-ins and training days.
Clinical skills teaching and simulation sessions are integral part of the regional educational programme. There are well established PACES teaching within individual sectors.
Research/Audit/Teaching
The Manchester medical school has recently undergone significant expansion, incorporating the use of problem-based learning. Junior hospital doctors, particularly in medicine, form an important group of the trainers at undergraduate level.
The University runs a regular programme of teaching the teachers, which CMT trainees are encouraged to attend. All trusts have an actively supported programme of audit; CMT trainees are expected to undertake audit and are actively supported to do so.
Research is also supported, with presentation of research at national and international meetings and publications of research achieved regularly by trainees in the trusts in the regional programme.