The School oversees all aspects of training in O&G in the North Western Deanery. Presently this is over 18 units.
Overall, the School is responsible for 163 O&G trainees across the Region which extends from Barrow-in-Furness in the North to Stockport in the South and from the Pennine moors in the East to the West coast. The population is 5 million. There are approximately 200 O&G consultants providing clinical services and training across the Deanery.
The core function of the School is to manage the quality of training, ensuring that trainees have access to the highest standards of teaching at all stages of their careers. The School has a lead role in trainee recruitment, assessments and appraisals, preparation for examinations, practical skills training and the development of non-technical skills. The School has close links to the Manchester Medical School and other Universities in the region who provide health related education and research. The Region has an excellent reputation in O&G research and trainees are encouraged to become involved in the academic aspects of O&G. There are successful Academic Clinical Fellowship and Lectureship programmes.
Trainees move units in August but there are no fixed rotations. Each trainees placement is based on their individual educational needs.
The transition from ST2 (1st on call) to ST3 (2nd on call) has been smoothed by the decision that trainees usually spend these 2 years in the same unit. Training therefore tends to be very focused on developing registrar competencies and this process has so far been a success.
As one of the largest schools of O&G in the country we have been able to facilitate the setting up within our region of all basic and core courses requiring study leave.
The Region is able to offer all aspects of the PMETB approved RCOG O&G curriculum within the programme. This includes all Advanced Training Skill Modules (ATSMs) and Subspecialist Training in Feto-maternal medicine, Gynaecological Oncology, Urogynaecology and Subfertility.
The Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) process in O&G in the region involves an individualised evidence based discussion utilising the e-portfolio and a matrix of training needs from ST1-7. The trainee is then invited to join the discussion for their annual review before the education plan for the next year is set. The rotation is then determined to ensure that trainees have the maximum benefit from the next year of training.
The Associate Dean leading for the North Western Deanery and responsible for the School is Dr Shirley Remington.
Programme details
The programme is designed to fulfil the requirements for training as described by the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (see www.rcog.org.uk). Successful trainees will progress through the seven year programme leading to a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
Trainees will usually spend 1 year attachment to hospitals, except the ST2 and ST3 years, which will usually be spent in the same training unit. Rotations are on the 1st Wednesday in August. The placement will be dependent on the individualised educational need of each trainee as determined by ARCP assessments which are combined with annual review. The Educational Supervisor working with the trainee will submit objective evidence of progress and educational needs to a panel to determine the ARCP outcome. The trainee is then invited to immediately attend to be given the outcome and have a conversation to determine an educational plan for the next 12 months and to help determine the rotation. This educational plan will be explicit and along with the training matrix, will used to determine the ARCP outcome 12 months later.
ST1-2
Dr Elizabeth Martindale is the Programme Director responsible for the ST1-2 programme. Trainees will be expected to attend the regional induction into ST training in O and G, and the mandatory regional teaching programme, which is delivered over 3 days every 4 months. In addition all courses required for basic training are available in the region. ST1 and 2 trainees will be training in basic O&G competencies so that they have the skills required to work as "registrar" in ST3. To ensure this process is seamless most trainees will be in the same unit for both ST2 and 3.
Trainees will be expected to have MRCOG part 1 and "second on call "competencies before being allowed to pass to ST3.
ST3-5
Dr Elizabath Haslett is the Programme Director responsible for core O&G trainees in the region. Mandatory regional training days occur every 2 months and all vital courses are available within the region. ST3-5 intermediate competencies will obtained through individualised education plans with appropriate attachments. Trainees will be expected to have obtained MRCOG part 2 and completed the intermediate (core) aspects of their RCOG logbook before passing to ST6.
ST6-7
Dr Fiona Clarke is the Programme Director for senior trainees. In the final two years all RCOG Advanced Training Skills Modules (ATSMs) are available in the region. Trainees are encouraged to undertake the Labour Ward Advanced Practitioner ATSM and at least one other ATSM.
Subspecialist training is available in the region in Feto-maternal Medicine (2 posts), Gynaecological Oncology (2 posts), Subfertility, and Urogynaecology.
Academic training
There are close links between the School of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the University of Manchester. Training opportunities exist for Academic Clinical Fellows (ACFs) and Academic Clinical Lecturers (ACLs). The clinical and academic needs of ACFs and ACLs are carefully balanced to enable achievement in both areas. ACFs have 3 years of academic training (ST1-5 eligible) during that time they work 75% clinical and 25% academic. ACLs work 50% clinically and 50% academically over 4 years. A PhD is required for appointment to ACL.
Educational Opportunities
Study Leave will be provided for the relevant courses required for training. Many of these courses are run within the region itself. Regional presentation evenings currently occur twice a year. Audit evenings are held once a year.
Research / Audit / Teaching
Clinical Audit is integral to training and the post-holder will participate in the conception, implementation, interpretation and presentation of audit projects. This will be a mandatory requirement through the seven year programme and the trainee will be expected to complete 2 clinical audit projects per year. Trainees will be expected to present in Audit meetings locally, regionally and nationally. There will also be opportunities for trainees to take additional time "out of programme" following PMETB guidelines to undertake research leading to a PhD/MD.
Presently, there is opportunity for trainees at ST4 level to enrol on an educational module (part of a PGCert) at Edge Hill University. Indeed it is expected that all trainees will do this to gain the necessary skills of a clinical supervisor. This is funded by the Deanery.
Please click here for the Absence from and return to training guideline.