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.

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)

The Academy Trainee Doctors' Group has produced 'A Charter for Postgraduate Medical Training' on behalf of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. This Charter describes a set of guiding principles to ensure the highest standard of doctors’ training and quality of care. It also makes specific recommendations for commitments based on these principles which emphasise training priorities while recognising the responsibilities of doctors in training.

AOMRC Doctors in training

 The Charter was written in consultation with stakeholders including the medical royal colleges and faculties, the General Medical Council and the Shape of Training Expert Advisory Group. Professor David Greenaway’s report ‘Securing the future of excellent patient care: Final report of the independent review’ highlighted the Charter and its potential to help with the challenges of delivering both training and service. The Charter was published in full as an annex to this report.
We are currently sending the Charter to all groups involved in medical training and to doctors in training via Trainee representatives. You may well be contacted in this regard and we are expecting doctors in training to have further ideas on how to disseminate the charter (for example, by including it in induction or welcome packs).
We believe the Charter has the potential to provide an excellent foundation for delivering training and high quality care and I hope you will share our enthusiasm for this work.