Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine

The primary aim of this training programme is to gain a wide experience of, and exposure to, Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine, designed to satisfy the requirements of both the Curriculum for Specialty Training in Chemical Pathology from the Royal College of Pathologists and the Curriculum for training in the subspecialty of Metabolic Medicine from the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB). 

Trainees are based in University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS). There will be a period of secondment to the Charles Dent Metabolic Unit, the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery for training in Inborn Errors of Metabolism. It is envisaged that the fifth year will largely be one of consolidation, with placement being in accordance with trainee needs. 

There is a region-wide syllabus with minimum standards of education agreed by all Trusts within the rotation.

HEE Wessex is committed to developing postgraduate training programmes as laid down by the General Medical Council (GMC), Colleges and Faculties and by the Conference Of Postgraduate Medical Deans (COPMED) .

At local level College and specialty tutors work with the Programme Director and Directors of Medical Education in supervising these programmes. Trainees will be expected to take part in these programmes (including audit) and to attend meetings with their nominated educational supervisor.

All posts within the training programme are recognised for postgraduate training by the GMC in accordance with their standards for training.

All posts have a service element and the following covers the majority of duties:  

Develop an in-depth knowledge of Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine in accordance with the Curriculum for Higher Specialist Training in Chemical Pathology of the Royal College of Pathologists and the Curriculum for training in the subspecialty of Metabolic Medicine from the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB). 

Liaise between laboratory technical, scientific and medical staff.  

Attend and participate in Outpatient clinics and ward rounds to obtain broad based experience in the five designated clinical areas (Disorders of Nutrition, Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Disorders of Lipid Metabolism and Cardiovascular Risk assessment, Disorders of Calcium Metabolism and Bone, Diabetes) sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Metabolic Medicine Curriculum.  

Undertake the year one assessment and regular workplace based assessments as required by the curricula; work towards and study for Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists and maintain continued professional development. 

Take part in rostered laboratory work. 

Attend regular educational and multidisciplinary sessions.  

Undertake audit at various times throughout training. 

Teach medical students as directed. 

Co-operate with members of the personnel department when monitoring hours of work and other personnel issues. 

Comply with all local policies including dress code, annual and study leave 

UHS provides local hospital services to some 500,000 people living in Southampton and South West Hampshire and specialist services including neurosciences, cancer care, cardiac services and children’s intensive care to more than 3 million people in central southern England and the Channel Islands. UHS is also a major centre for teaching and research in association with the University of Southampton and partners including the Medical Research Council, Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research Campaign. 

UHS offer a comprehensive range of analyses including a regional service for Paediatric Clinical Biochemistry, Trace Element analysis and Specialist Endocrinology. 

Training is overseen by Health Education England – Wessex Pathology School and the Regional Specialist Training Committee for Chemical Pathology, senior medical membership of which includes: 

Dr Paul Cook (Programme Director, Consultant, UHS) 

Timetable: A timetable will be drawn up for each trainee covering the five key areas of the Chemical Pathology training and the minimum clinical training required for Metabolic Medicine.  

Teaching programmes will cover all aspects of the Curriculum for Higher Specialist Training in Chemical Pathology with emphasis placed on the acquisition of clinical skills in the Curriculum for training in the subspecialty of Metabolic Medicine 

The curricula detail the level of knowledge and skill that a trainee should acquire to provide a high quality service at consultant level in the National Health Service (NHS). The Good Medical Practice and core content of the curricula include: 

Laboratory aspects of chemical pathology. 
Management and communication
Clinical governance, clinical audit and evidence-based medicine.
Clinical training in the Chemical Pathology of Disease
Direct patient care
Recent advances in the clinical and laboratory aspects of the subject as published in scientific literature

The curricula map components of Good Medical Practice against the clinical components of Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine. 

The objective of this programme is to educate and train a Specialist Registrar to attain CCT in Chemical Pathology with the subspecialty of Metabolic Medicine in a timely manner and successfully continue their careers as Consultants in the NHS with or without academic appointments.  

The programme is based on the following criteria:- 

1. Education and training guidelines established by the Royal College of Pathologists and the JRCPTB. The programme will be managed by the Educational Supervisors, who will report to the Pathology School Board and to the Postgraduate Dean. The Educational Supervisors will be responsible for arranging appraisals and preparation for Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP). 

2. Education and training will be provided in:- 

Laboratory techniques and evaluation of results.
A spectrum of clinical metabolic diseases.
Research methods and concepts.
Teaching skills and methods.
A modular programme that concentrates on self-learning.  All modules will be individually planned and assessed. 

3. There will be a concentration on the acquisition of skills in a variety of clinical areas to facilitate future independent clinical practice in these areas.  

4. There will be a concentration on the management skills essential for trainees’ future roles as Consultants. Time management, inter-personal skills in addition to laboratory, clinical and financial management skills will be developed. 

5. Clinical governance, evidence-based medicine and audit will be emphasised to prepare the trainees for their future roles as Consultants and the self-learning aspect of the programme will be directed towards continuing professional development as a Consultant. 

The trainee will be expected to maintain a training portfolio, using the Royal College of Pathologists’ Learning Environment for Pathology Trainees (LEPT), a web-based system for workplace-based assessment (WPBA) and multi-source feedback (MSF) which will also include an e-Portfolio to support the ARCP process. Evidence should be collected for attendance at courses or lectures, whether these are within the hospital, region or international. This should include documented evidence of participation at these times. Training plans, WPBA assessments, appraisal outcomes and self-assessment details should be maintained by the trainee within this portfolio. The trainee will also be expected to demonstrate evidence of IT training and participation in clinical audit and R&D and these should be maintained in the training portfolio. 

The trainee will have a desk, access to a secure filing cabinet within shared office space together with access to a personal computer which can be used for email and access to the internet. Local Education Provider policy for use of IT equipment and internet access must be observed. 

Some text books are available within the department and there will be provision to provide others in accordance with the trainees needs. Library services provide a good range of medical journals, both hard copy and online, and a good supporting photocopying facility.  

The posts are whole-time and the appointments are subject to: 

The Terms and Conditions of Service for NHS Doctors and Dentists in Training (England).
Satisfactory registration with the General Medical Council.
Right to work in the UK.
Criminal Records Check/POCA check carried out by the Education Provider’s Medical HR department. 
Pre-employment checks carried out by the Education Provider’s Medical HR department