W/N/E Yorks and N Lincs.
This introduction supplements the local Trust and departmental induction that you will receive. This is a 4 year training programme leading to a CCT in GU medicine. Trainees are based at the Leeds General Infirmary with opportunities to rotate to York for 1 year of their training. Close clinical and training links exist with the Infectious diseases unit at St James Hospital in Leeds with shared ward rounds and on call. The programme accommodates 9 trainees with 7 based in Leeds and 2 based at York one of which has been a Clinical Lecturer post. Training in HIV is provided throughout all 4 years of training, both inpatient and outpatient, with registrars conducting their own clinics under the supervision of consultant staff. Additional experience is also provided by attachments to allied units such as gynaecology, dermatology, microbiology, virology, urology etc. There is exposure to post graduate teaching as well as undergraduate teaching via the Leeds and Hull York Medical Schools. Trainees are encouraged to pursue research activity. York has a Professorial academic unit headed by Prof Charles Lacey with whom a number of trainees have gained out of programme research experience with opportunities to pursue an MD.
Genitourinary Medicine falls within the School of Medicine. The School creates the structure and processes needed to:
- plan your rotations
- run the recruitment process
- deliver the educational programmes which back up your clinical experience
- administer your record of training (ePortfolio)
- assess your progress
- supervise the quality of training, including gathering your feedback on posts
The curriculum
The training for Genitourinary Medicine is a 4-year programme. The curriculum was revised in 2010 and is delivered through a variety of learning experiences, including work-based learning and on-the-job supervision.
The 2010 curriculum for the training as a Specialty Registrar is available on the JRCPTB site:
The nature of genitourinary medicine requires trainees who are:
- non-judgemental
- excellent communicators
- team players
- not easily embarrassed, with a good sense of humour!
Recent Changes in Postgraduate Medical training and GU Medicine Training
There have been a number of recent changes in medical training. This powerpoint presentation was produced in October 2007 to summarise how these changes have affected training in GU Medicine. There is also a brief summary of the Tooke Report.
Years 1 & 2
The aim of these two years is to lay the groundwork of knowledge and skills of:
- Epidemiology, diagnosis, and clinical management of common genitourinary infections
- Diagnosis and management of the complications of common genitourinary infections
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing
- Care of patients with HIV infection
- Advice regarding contraception
- The issues relating to counselling and partner notification
- Research methods (including statistics), and possibly to initiate research projects
- The gynaecological module
Normally by the end of year 2 the trainee should have attained the Diploma in GU Medicine.
Years 3 & 4
In these years the basic knowledge and skills will be consolidated in:
- Epidemiology, diagnosis, and clinical management of common genitourinary infections
- Diagnosis and management of the complications of common genitourinary infections
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing
- Care of patients with HIV infection including antiretroviral prescribing and in-patient care.
The remainder of the time should be divided into:
- Audit
- Developing teaching skills
- Dermatology and laboratory training
- Learning management skills
- Research
- Developing special interests (e.g. vulval clinics)
- Overseas experience can be incorporated in this period if approved by GMC.
By the end of year 2 the trainee should have attained the Diploma in GU Medicine, by the end of year 3 the Diploma of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health and by the end of year 4 the Diploma in HIV medicine. As curriculum requirements these are supported in study leave requirements
Working/training in an ST3 GUM post
The day-to-day work of a GUM physician varies, depending on sub-specialty and setting, and ranges from managing acute presentations of STIs, sexual assault assessment and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV in addition to the chronic management of HIV. There are also more specialist services, such as psychosexual medicine, adolescent clinics and genital dermatology, as well as sex worker and drug user outreach services.
As many of our patients are drawn from vulnerable and under-represented populations, there is also a real emphasis on social circumstances and emotional health.
Traditionally, GUM clinics were based in hospital; however these are becoming increasingly community-based, so as to provide better local access, although HIV care has continued in acute settings.
The speciality provides ample opportunity for interdisciplinary working with sexual and reproductive health, infectious diseases, diagnostics specialities and public health; the latter being a key element of the speciality with regards to partner notification and disease surveillance.
GUM achieves high scores for satisfaction in the annual GMC trainee survey, and most trainees have readily achieve consultant status after the four-year training programme.
Out-of-programme attachments are encouraged, and a number of trainees pursue HIV care abroad or higher degrees.
Further information
You will receive a personal password for your portfolio soon after your post starts. Your Educational supervisor will also receive a separate password.
The portfolio will record the details of your appraisal meetings, your workplace based assessments, and will contain your Record of Competencies. The portfolio will be an important aid to your supervisors when you move between posts. As you use it you will find that it is closely related to the Genitourinary Medicine curriculum.
The other important point about the portfolio is related to assessment. Achieving satisfactory results in the various components of the portfolio at various timepoints is required for progression through the programme. This process is termed the Annual Record of Competency Progression. See the Gold Guide section below.
Most of your time will be spent as before in clinical work, but every Thursday morning is protected teaching time with planned teaching sessions held mainly at the Department of Genitourinary Medicine in Leeds. You will also be encouraged and supported in attending relevant external courses and meetings.
This is the document sets out the ‘rules’ for your training and supervision. It is very helpful and can be used as a reference source. Gold Guide