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NEW ANAESTHESIA TRAINING SCHEME
Anaesthesia training in Ireland will undergo it's greatest ever overhaul in 2012 with the introduction of a "run through" residency-type system. Training will no longer be divided into BST and SPR, but rather into a shorter programme based on modular training that will result in automatic progression, assuming that the trainees pass their exams and achieve their competencies (and pass their assessments).
Features:
1. Single central recruitment process - interviewing in January, each year, closing date late November for applications. Getting into the specialty will be the hardest part: this year it was extremely competitive.
2. The programme is 5 + 1 years: SA1, SA2,SA3, SA4, SA5, SA6. SA 1 & 2 are essentially BST, and if one completes these years and passes the Primary FCAI, one receives CCBST and progresses into SA3.
3. Years SA1-SA3 are regional - in the East (Dublin), West (Galway) and South of Ireland (Cork & Limerick). All trainees will spend time in community hospitals during this period.
4. SA3-SA6 are equivalent to SPR years 1-4 (there is 1 fewer year), with SA5 being the Senior Registrar year (although this terminology will be forever dropped). One cannot, presumably, enter SA5 without passing the FCAI final exam. These years will be Nationally Rotated, but based, principally in Dublin. At the end of SA5 - all competencies should be achieved.
5. SA6 is a special interest year - a year that can be spent in critical care, paediatrics, obstetrics, regional anaesthesia etc. This will allow trainees to apply for consultant posts "with a special interest in..." It does not need to be done in Ireland; indeed, we expect many trainees to spend this year abroad. At the end of SA6 - CCST will be achieved. Thus, there is a return to the old 6 year system (but it is really 5 +1)
6. There will be 1 year post CCST fellowships - in critical care, pain, perhaps cardiac - around the country. The potential and popularity of these is as yet unclear.
So, in total - one would be ready to be a consultant 7 years post graduating medical school. Of course, whether or not there will be jobs for graduates of this programme at the end of it - is an age old question.
Featured Posts
Nothing terrifies an anaesthetist as much as the prospect of a patient waking up blind. It happens, but very infrequently. Who is at risk? What surgeries? What are the risk factors? Is there anything we can do to prevent and treat visual loss? Perioperartive visual loss is associated with posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (ION), anterior ION, Continue reading
The ASA has issued guidelines for acute pain management in the perioperative setting. Click on this link to read guidelines. Obviously there is a North American flavour to these guidelines, but they are generalisable. Summary: 1. Institutional Policies and Procedures for Providing Perioperative Pain Management Anaesthetists offering perioperative analgesia services should provide ongoing education and training Continue reading
Patrick Neligan, Consultant in Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, Galway University Hospitals (c) Clinical Scenario A 37 year old female undergoes bilateral mammoplasty. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia. Prior to incision the wound was infiltrated with 20ml of 1% lignocaine, on each side. Intraoperatively the patients temperature was 37.5 degrees celcius, heart rate was 100 Continue reading
announcements
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ANAESTHSIA POSTS GALWAY
There are a no posts available for NCHDS in July, but there will be posts in January at experienced SHO or registrar grade. Contact: leo.kevin@hse.ie - Would you like to submit a
problem based learning discussion for the 2013
Western Anaesthesia Symposium?
We are inviting members and non member to submit stem cases for next years' symposium. Members can also submit stems for the seasonal society meetings. Details to follow. - Examinations: congratulations to all of the exam candidates from Galway University Hospitals - 100% pass rate in the primary and final exams this year.
- Regular postgraduate teaching continues in Galway University Hospital this week - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
- Specialist Grade: it looks like that government is serious about a subconsultant grade this time. The WAS will have a position on this controversy. Members will be polled over the next few weeks.
- Would you like to write a long or short review for out blog site. We are accepting articles - those not written by direct access bloggers will be fully peer reviewed and edited (and will count as online publications). Please email us here.
