The GW4 Clinical Academic Training (GW4-CAT) Programme in Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter for Medical, Veterinary and Dental Graduates

Applications for a Summer 2020 start are invited from exceptional medical, veterinary and dental graduates to undertake 3-year PhD training at the universities of Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter.

The scheme, supported by the Wellcome Trust, is aimed at exceptionally motivated clinically qualified trainees who can demonstrate the capability and drive to undertake a period of research with a view to developing a long-term career as a clinical academic. Applicants must be fully-qualified medical doctors and must have a qualification that allows them to practice clinically in the UK.

Funding offered:

• A clinical salary
• University tuition fees at the home rate
• Associated project costs
• A contribution towards travel expenses for conferences or project-related travel
• Some carer support costs where necessary, subject to approval
• A contribution towards core and specialist training costs

Further information and online application can be found on the GW4CAT website.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 GMT on 1st April 2019

If you have any queries, please email.

Severn Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education office is moving on the 4 October 2018

Please note that Health Education England’s Severn PGMDE office will be moving out of Vantage Business Park to our new location.

From the 4 October 2018 we will no longer be located at Deanery House, Vantage Business Park. With effect from Monday 15 October 2018 our new address will be:

Health Education England
Park House
1200 Parkway
Bristol Parkway North
Stoke Gifford
Bristol, BS34 8YU

Our telephone numbers will remain unchanged.

There is no central switchboard number – all calls will be direct dial.

We apologise in advance if there is any delay in communications between 4 and 15 October 2018. Please send an email to the person with whom you wish to contact and they will reply you as soon as possible.

In the case of an urgent query please contact Simon Davis on 07585 998 704, Matt Friend on 07585 401187 or Rose Hill on 01752 590625. If you wish to get in touch with the Professional Support Unit please email: SevTraineeSupport.SW@hee.nhs.uk.

Dental - In the case of an urgent query please contact Matthew Hill on 01454 252672

South West Peninsula and Severn Postgraduate Medical Education programmes, on behalf of Health Education England, South West, will be holding their annual educational conference on 28th September 2018 at Taunton Racecourse. This year, given it is the 70th Birthday of the NHS, the conference will consider the journey of postgraduate medical education, where it is today and speculate on what it may look like in future.

There will also be a variety of workshops which will provide an opportunity to discuss topical issues, gain a greater understanding of PGME related subjects and support educator development. This year it is our intention that one of the workshops be trainee delivered.

The conference aims to be an enjoyable and valuable interactive experience for all those involved in clinical postgraduate medical education. It will be of particular interest to Associate Deans, GP Associate Directors, Regional Advisers, Heads of School, Training Programme Directors, Directors of Medical Education, Clinical Tutors, Foundation Leads and College Tutors, as well as Clinical and Educational Supervisors.

All the speakers have an interest and considerable experience on the areas they will be presenting and there will be an opportunity for interactive discussion and networking throughout the day.

CPD recognition with the Royal College of Physicians will be applied for.

Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis. There will be no charge to those involved in educational roles in the footprint of Health Education England working across the South West. A programme will be available on this website shortly, but in the meantime registration for the Conference can be found on the link below.

Application Form

Draft Programme

The ARCP animation and guide is now live and can be viewed on the Specialty Training website.   

Lydia Taylor
Communications Programme Manager
Health Education England

Please see the Joint Statement from COPMED and AoMRC on Reflective Practice.

We (Julie Screaton (Director, London and the South East) and Professor Ged Byrne (Director of Education & Quality, Health Education England working across the North West)) are pleased to let you know that our survey of higher education institutions about embedding national antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship competences into curricula is now available to access on our website.

The antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship (AMPS) competences, produced jointly by the Government's expert advisory group for antimicrobial resistance and healthcare acquired infections (ARHAI), and Public Health England were published in 2013. Implementing these competences forms a key aspect of ‘Key area 3’ of the Government's five year strategy for tackling antimicrobial resistance - improving professional education, training and public engagement to improve clinical practice and promote wider understanding of the need for more sustainable use of antimicrobials. The antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship (AMPS) competences can provide clarity for regulators, education providers and professional bodies to inform standards, guidance and the development of training.

Undergraduate students have expressed interest in receiving more education about antimicrobials, especially about their multidisciplinary use. This survey asked higher education institutions about their awareness of the competencies, and how they had embedded them into their courses.

The results showed:

• From the 45 universities that submitted information for a total of 100 health-related course 86% of universities confirmed they were aware of the national AMPS competencies.
• Implementation of the five domains of the AMPS competencies showed that 91% of courses had embedded statements on infection prevention and control, 75% of courses for antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobials, 66.3% of courses for the prescribing of antimicrobials, 62% of courses for the prescribing of antimicrobials and 40% of courses for monitoring and learning.
• Embedding of the AMPS competencies per professional group showed an average of 90% implementation for medicine, 82% for dentistry, 81% for pharmacy, 76% for independent non-medical prescribing courses, 52% for midwifery, 46% for nursing and 40.8% for allied health professionals.

We welcome the findings of this initial survey and hope best practices can be shared between higher health education institutions to enhance the adoption of these competencies. It has also highlighted the importance of non-medical prescribing courses adopting these competencies.

We would encourage you to:

• implement the recommendations in this report on behalf of your organisations
• raise awareness of these results within your organisations and networks
• provide system leadership as individuals, groups and organisations in enhancing the adoption and implementation of the antimicrobial prescribing and stewardship (AMPS) competences within your academic and health networks and organisations, at both undergraduate and post-graduate level.

For further information please contact Mohamed Sadak (Clinical Lead and Programme Manager, Antimicrobial Resistance and Sepsis).

Please see the attached letter from the Chief Medical Officer, NHS England, regarding what is currently known around Ebola survivorship, and what measures clinicians should take.

Welcome to the new Postgraduate Dental Education website. 

We provide high quality Postgraduate Dental Education for the South West. Including Dental Foundation Training, Hospital Training including Dental Core Training and Specialty Training, and Continuing Professional Development for all Dentists and Dental Care Professionals.

Relocation Expenses Trust Contact Information

Please see the table below for contact details within respective trusts relating to Relocation Expenses.

Dear surgical trainees,

The Mammary Fold, the National Breast Trainees Group, is keen to recruit three surgical trainees to form an academic subcommittee, which will be supported by the Association of Breast Surgery (ABS) Academic & Research Committee. The three appointed members will have key roles in forming and running a national research collaborative, studying all aspects of breast surgery. This will also be an opportunity to further enhance their research, leadership and management skills, while delivering trainee-led research in breast surgery at a national level.

The successful applicants will have an active role in designing and conducting future studies, facilitating and disseminating other trainee collaborative group projects, as well as the projects of the ABS Academic & Research Committee. Selected trainees will also be expected to liaise with regional representatives and have an active role in co-ordinating local trainee involvement.

Applications are welcome from both academic and non-academic trainees at all levels of training. To apply, please send a copy of your Curriculum Vitae to themammaryfold@gmail.com, along with a short covering letter (250 words) supporting your application. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, the 2nd of September, 2014.

The appointments for the post will be made under the guidance of the ABS Academic & Research Committee. For further enquiries, please email Dennis Remoundos at themammaryfold@gmail.com.

(C. Elliott)