The South Yorkshire and Humber Postgraduate School of Medicine strongly encourages Higher Speciality Trainees to train in General Internal Medicine as well as well as their chosen ‘acute’ speciality (Acute Medicine, Cardiology, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Geriatric Medicine, Infectious Disease & Tropical Medicine, Renal Medicine and, Rheumatology ).

General Internal Medicine is a very gratifying part of medical practice. Whilst acute medical care will increasingly be delivered during extended working hours by consultants in acute medicine, there will continue to be a role for General Internal Medicine Consultant Physicians, particularly in the out-of-hours delivery of acute medical care The award of a certificate of completion of training [CCT] in General Internal Medicine will allow participation at a senior level on the acute medical take, and to provide timely and, effective advice on the investigations and management of inpatients and outpatients with acute and chronic medical problems.

A CCT in General Internal Medicine will give trainees an opportunity to apply for consultant posts with a commitment to the acute medical take.

Dual specialty training programmes will be a minimum of 60 months. Of these, typically 2-3 years are spent at the Sheffield teaching hospitals (Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Northern General Hospital) and the remainder at the associated District General Hospitals (Chesterfield, Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster, Scunthorpe and Goole) offering a balanced experience. Most of the Hospitals are within a 20 mile radius of Sheffield.

The progression through the General Internal Medicine Programme will be determined by using the decision grid (see section 5.5 ARCP Decision Aid [Page 183/191] in the new General Internal Medicine Curriculum [2009]). The new General Internal Medicine Curriculum reflects the changes in practice where “true” general medical wards and clinics are diminishing in number but also recognises that an increasing number of patients have complex medical problems involving multiple symptoms.

The final award of the CCT in General Internal Medicine will be dependent on achieving competences as evidenced by successful completion by the type and number of assessments set out in the curriculum.

To support higher specialty trainees a three year Teaching Programme organised on a Regional basis has been designed to cover aspects of the General Internal Medicine Curriculum. Each year 5 days of teaching will be delivered by the medical specialties mostly at the Sheffield Royal Hallamshire Hospital.  In the future consideration will be given to an organised day of teaching by the trainee representatives on the General Internal Medicine training committee. Higher Speciality trainees are also encouraged to attend the Royal College of Physicians Spring and Autumn Updates. There is an expectation that trainees will attend at least 3½ days of General Internal Medicine education, usually from these opportunities. In addition during higher specialty training trainees will be expected to have participated in at least one audit relevant to General Internal Medicine and, to have attended an acute medicine course.

Recognition of pre-2009 Trainees

Trainees enrolled in single CCT training who would have been applying for a level 2
credential in GIM (Acute) Medicine who wish to transfer to the new General Internal Medicine CCT, may do so at their next ARCP or Penultimate Year Assessment (PYA) (whichever is the earlier) by providing the following evidence detailed below. Please also refer to the ARCP Decision Aid in section 5.5 of the GIM Curriculum and the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) website www.jrcptb.org.uk for more details. In particular, there are links half way down the page with useful information on the transferring process. If not wishing to transfer trainees should continue to follow the General (Internal) Medicine 2007 system blueprint Curriculum G(I)M Level 2 assessment blueprint.  

As Training Programme Director for General Internal Medicine based in Chesterfield I am supported by two deputies: Dr Chris Barber and, Dr Alan Lobo both of who are based at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

Please be free to comment and, feedback to me on any of the elements of the General Internal Medicine Placements, Educational (Teaching) Programmes or any other issues which may be causing you concern in relation to General Internal Medicine training Programme. I hope you enjoy your training in General Internal Medicine in South Yorkshire and Humber.

Dr Mansur Reza
Training Programme Director, General Internal Medicine, 
South Yorkshire & Humber