Infectious Diseases

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Infectious Diseases

The Royal College of Physicians recognises four types of Infectious Disease Physicians:

An Infectious Disease Physician.
A General Physician with an interest in Infectious Disease.
An Infectious Disease Physician with an interest in Tropical Medicine.
A Clinical Microbiology (or Virology) Physician with an interest & accreditation in Infectious Diseases or Tropical Medicine

The Mersey and North Western deaneries merged in 2014 to form a single Deanery. Coming at the same time as the merger of infectious diseases and microbiology training into combined infection training this has provided an opportunity to rethink infection training in the region.

Although the two infection rotations in Liverpool and Manchester are still distinct rotations, they have now merged administratively including for ARCP, STEC and national representation purposes. Training programmes are shared, and joint regional training half days take place twice a year. Although the rotation of posts across the region cannot be guaranteed, trainees wishing to rotate may be considered for placements during ID, Microbiology or GIM training.

Contacts

NW Training Programme Director Infectious Diseases

Dr Karen Devine

Email: karen.devine2@mft.nhs.uk

Mersey Training Programme Director Infectious Diseases

Dr Sylviane Defres

E-Mail: Sylviane.Defres@liverpoolft.nhs.uk

Programme Overview North West

The Infectious Disease training is based at the Regional ID Unit at North Manchester General Hospital. It cares for the largest cohort of HIV patients (approx 2,000) outside London/SE England, and has extensive exposure to community acquired, imported and nosocomial infections. It is presently one of the largest hepatitis C treatment centres in England and is responsible for running the Regional Hepatitis C Operational Delivery Network. The Manchester Training Programme offers dual training in ID/GIM, ID/Medical microbiology and ID/virology. It would be rare for a trainee’s specific requirements not to be covered by the present training schemes, however, if there were unusual aims and objectives these could usually be arranged with colleagues elsewhere in the region/country/internationally.

Programme Overview Mersey

The infectious disease training takes place at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital (RLUH) including the clinics of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. It is one of three programmes in the UK which is also recognised for tropical medicine training.

Inpatient training is centred on two infectious disease wards with a total of 32 adult beds.The first has 19 beds, 13 of which are in isolation cubicles. The second ward provides 13 single isolation rooms (8 with negative pressure), primarily to deal with nosocomial infection risks such as small round structured viruses, Clostridium difficile, influenza etc. The ward currently admits 900 patients per year and includes patients with general infection problems as well.

Recruitment

We recruit through the biannual national recruitment where the applicants are assessed at 3 stations:

A CV station that discusses their training so far and commitment to infection training.
A clinical station where clinical scenarios related to common infections are discussed – the scenarios are designed to test experience and knowledge at end of CMT.
A presentation and quality improvement station where candidates give a brief 3-minute presentation on quality improvement project or audit they have been part of and then answer some questions on their experience.

You can find out more about recruitment at ST3 recruitment of infectious diseases, where information on vacancies is posted and where further links to the on-line portal are also available.

Essential Experience

All applicants must have completed core medical training and successfully passed PACES.

Desirable Experience

Some previous experience of Infectious Disease, GUM or Tropical Medicine is an advantage, but not essential. A Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (or other further degree) is also seen as an advantage, as is research experience.

Academic Training

Manchester

The unit is active in clinical research, supported by several research nurses. We actively encourage and promote research and the undertaking of higher degrees. Recent former trainees have undertaken higher degrees in Peru, Uganda and South Africa as well as the UK. We have close links to PHE Porton, the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool, the Liverpool and London Schools of Tropical Medicine, other UK Infection Units, Wellcome Research Unit in Vietnam etc. The Unit has recently been commended by Dame Sally Davies for recruitment to commercial research studies. Also, at the Greater Manchester Research Awards, the Unit was awarded the Research Team of the Year award in 2013 and Investigator of the Year in 2015. The Unit also received the Trust Patient Safety award in 2015 for work on preparing for the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Liverpool

The unit is active in clinical research, supported by a cadre of research nurses, and trainees are encouraged to participate in this area and develop their own interests. The majority of our trainees have been successful in competing for Wellcome Trust or other training fellowships, completing their PhDs as part of this. We encourage periods out of programme for research, many of these through our partnership links with the Wellcome Trust Liverpool Glasgow Centre for Global Health Research in Blantyre, Malawi. Former trainees have taken up opportunities for clinical and research training through our networks in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa. Similar opportunities continue to be available. There is flexible and frequent involvement of consultant colleagues from the local academic institutes including the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and two Institutes within the University of Liverpool; the Institute of Translational Medicine and the Institute of Infection & Global Health.

Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP)

An ARCP (Annual Review of Competence Progression) will take place for all trainees (including LTFT trainees) at least once per calendar year. For most trainees this will take place in June/July. However, some trainees may have their ARCP in December/January. Ad-hoc ARCPs may take place at other times of the year as required. The ARCP outcome will be decided at an ARCP assessment panel at which the trainee will not be present. Therefore, all evidence must be on their JRCPTB ePortfolio before the date of the ARCP assessment panel. The TPD (Training Programme Director) may ask that evidence is ready 2 weeks in advance of the ARCP assessment panel. Trainees will not normally attend the ARCP assessment panel, however the TPD may ask you to attend for an Educational Meeting which will take place after the Panel have decided the ARCP outcome. Trainees issued a developmental outcome (Outcome 2, 3, 4 or 5) must attend the ARCP feedback panel to discuss the outcome and objectives for the next period of training.

Please click here to download the Infectious Diseases ARCP Requirements

For a full guide of the standard HEE North West process for ARCPs please visit our policies and procedures page:

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