Judith Carser (Belfast) and Natalie Cook (Cambridge) are the two new SpR representatives for the ACP. Below is a message from them:
Judith and I have taken over from Yvette as your representatives. We aim to keep to up to date with training issues by attending all possible meetings and being involved in the curriculum re-write, medical oncology exam and any problems you may be experiencing. Our emails are included below should you want to contact us about anything.
We recently attended the latest SAC meeting and below is an outline of what was discussed. The next meeting is in October 09 so if there is any issues anyone wants raising please let one of us know.
SAC meeting May 09
Speciality Certificate Examination (SCE, previously Knowledge Based Assessment)
Latest info from meeting: Compulsory for trainees who started after August 2007 but optional for those who started prior to this, although participation will be strongly encouraged (and eventually we will be competing for consultant posts with trainees who do have the exam). The first exam is unlikely to happen before 2011. Question writing is currently taking place. As Yvette mentioned previously there may be a pilot sitting but this would cost trainees £800 to sit, which everyone has said no too at the last trainee meeting (understandably). This website will be updated as soon as further information is available so watch this space.
Recruitment/selection for ST3 posts
There will be a centralised appointment committee that will meet twice yearly from August 2010 for selection of new trainees. It is likely that the application forms will be standardised but then applied locally and dealt with by individual deaneries. Draft documents for these forms are awaited.
2010 Project
This involves rewriting the Medical Oncology Curriculum to new PMETB standards and needs to be finalised by October 2009. It will incorporate new information on health inequalities, medical leadership and teenage and young adult oncology and will have a slightly different format (hopefully being more user friendly!) I am involved with this currently and we are waiting for a draft format to be finalised. We may need further trainee input but we will keep you informed.
E Portfolios
All ST3 trainees will be required to participate in this from next year (i.e. trainees who entered onto training programmes from August 2008). Participation is strongly encouraged, for further information please see; http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/e-oncology
Penultimate Year Assessments (PYA)
Trainees may need to travel to other places for their PYAs if a panel is meeting elsewhere and the local deanery are having difficulty obtaining an external examiner.
On calls
Requirements for on calls were discussed and it is apparent there are many different systems working in different areas of the country. We felt it is a valuable training opportunity and should remain mandatory for at least 3 of the 4 years of training.
Competency based assessments
These are being developed for chemotherapy/systemic therapies. Further information to follow when available.
Please email one of us if you have any questions or what further information on any points raised above.
Thanks
Natalie ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Judith ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
