The School of Anaesthesia at Peninsula Postgraduate Medical Education aims to offer high quality training in Anaesthesia in a popular and picturesque part of the country. The hospitals offering training are based in Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton, Torbay and Truro.
Higher Specialty Training - Role Description
The training programme is competency based over a four year programme, after which a CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training) is awarded, subject to satisfactory progress and assessments. It is divided into 2 principal sections:
Stage 2 Training (ST4 & 5)
Doctors in Training are required to submit a competitive application to continue further CCT training. Once appointed, more senior training is provided. Doctors in Training will rotate to Derriford Hospital and receive modular training in various sub-specialities, including cardiac and neuroanaesthesia. A further three month block of intensive care will be undertaken. The final FRCA examination needs to be passed during this period.
Stage 3 Training including SIAs (ST6 & 7)
Additional clinical responsibilities are taken on, which include the supervision of more junior colleagues. The development of areas of special interest is required, and SIA opportunities exist in many specialist areas, including Intensive Care Medicine. The development of teaching, audit, research and management skills are all important during this time. Subject to the necessary approval, there is an opportunity to work outside the programme for up to a year, either in the UK or abroad, although the final 6 months of training must be undertaken in the UK.
Stage 3 Specialist Interest Areas (SIAs)
Stage 3 training requires completion of 12 months (whole time equivalent) in one or more specialist areas. The Peninsula School currently offers SIAs in 6 months blocks (except cardiothoracics, available for 12 months), allowing trainees to experience 2 specialist areas in their Stage 3 training. The purpose of SIAs is to develop knowledge and skills to enable Doctors in Training to gain the capabilities required to be an independent practitioner. It also prepares them for specialised areas of anaesthetic practice that they may want to pursue as a consultant or in preparation for additional training opportunities that might be undertaken in a more specialised area of anaesthetics practice after gaining CCT. The SIAs may be undertaken at any time during the 2 years of Stage 3 training, and do not need to be completed consecutively. The SIAs form an integral part of Stage 3 training; capabilities acquired during an SIA can be used to inform Stage 3 capabilities.
Accessing SIAs in the Peninsula School of Anaesthesia
Doctors in Training should be considering their preferred SIA options towards the end of their ST4 year. The Doctor in Training must contact the Specialty Training Program Director to discuss the preferences so that rotations may be planned accordingly. Currently our SIAs are allocated by the TPD and college tutor based on availability. A competitive application and selection process (including submission of CVs and attendance at interviews) may be necessary if more than one Doctor in Training requests the same module at the same time.
SIAs Available in the Peninsula School of Anaesthesia
The training opportunities listed below are open to all trainee anaesthetists in the Peninsula School of Anaesthesia during their Stage 3 (ST6 and ST7) programme. The posts are not available for external candidates. For information relating to particular SIAs, please see the relevant job descriptions in the links below;
EXETER
Major Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery
TAUNTON
TORBAY
Anaesthesia for Ophthalmic Surgery
Management & Regulatory bodies
CORNWALL
Airway/Head and Neck Anaesthesia
PLYMOUTH
Airway/Head and Neck Anaesthesia
Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia (12 months Wholetime Equivalent)
BRISTOL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL