NES.MTB 13.45a
Minutes of the Scottish Board for Training in Medical Specialties meeting held at 11.00 am on Tuesday 3 December 2013 in Rooms 1 and 2 combined, Westport, Edinburgh (with VC links)
Present: Donald Farquhar – Chair (DLF), Stephen Glen (SG), Moya Kelly (MK), Ken McHardy (KM), Alastair McLellan (AMcL), Lewis Morrison (LM), Susan Nicol (SN), RowanParks (RP), David Reid (DR) and Cathy Watkins (CW)
Videoconference: David Marshall (DM), Audrey McPetrie (AM), Janice Walker (JW) and Morwena Wood (MW)
Apologies: Gordon Birnie (GB), NickiColledge (NC), Graham Leese (GL), Jen MacKenzie (JM), Stuart Rodger (SR) and Liz Sinclair (LS).
In attendance: Paola Solar (PS)
- Welcome and Apologies
The Chair welcomed everybody to the meeting and read the apologies.
- Minutes of the Medicine STB and Notes of CPT Quality Management Review of 22.10.13
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved without further comment.
The notes of the CPT Quality Management review were also approved.
- Matters Arising
- CCT Cut-off date
AMcL had been asked to look further into the current CCT cut-off date as this will become a serious problem in a few years. AMcL had taken the issue to MDET who had decided that no change can be pursued at present but had acknowledged the significant risks in future years. MDET agreed to review in six months.
The STB noted that it was a Service/training risk against a big financial risk for NES. AMcL reiterated that MDET would review at a later date.
3.2.Meeting with Scottish Government Health Advisor
DLF noted that there had been a proposal in the last paper by Paul Padfield for extra posts in CMT and some Acute ST3 posts. There had also been mention of reductions for example in Neurology posts. There had been no official response from the Cabinet Secretary to this paper.
DLF would have a meeting with Ian Finlay the following week when he could get more information about any reductions and proposed expansion in CMT and Acute specialities.
KM noted that he had submitted a request for the disestablishment of a Diabetes residual post to Paul Padfield but had had no response from the Scottish Government. DLF will ask ian Finlay about this request, although there may not be a definite answer.
Action: DLF
3.3.Specialty Selection Test – trainee flyer
It was noted that the wrong paper had been distributed under this item, but DLF showed the flyer to the group, noting that the SST had to be “positively reinforced” to all trainees although it was not mandatory.
3.4.Stroke Recruitment
There had been a proposal to coordinate recruitment of trainees going into Stroke Fellowships from Acute specialities before national recruitment. However, recruitment is by Deaneries and they all have reasons to act at different times. The issue will be discussed with the National Stroke Lead – but it is too late for this year.
Action: DLF
DM noted that the Stroke SAC had discussed lengthening the Stroke Fellowships from 1 to 2 years. No one in the STB had seen anything from GMC or any other source, so DLF would check with Bill Burr at the next Heads of Schools meeting.
Action: DLF
- CMT/ACCS
DLF introduced Stephen Glenn (SG) to the group, as the new Chair of the CMT Subgroup and Associate Postgraduate Dean in WoS.
4.1.Practical Procedures in CMT
SG noted that Agenda items 4.1 and 4.2 were linked. It had been reported that less than 20% of CMT trainees had access to the Simulation facilities. Part of the issue was that each area was doing their own thing and some provided better access than others. SG had distributed to the group the report from the Simulation workshop that had taken place in Harrogate on 19th of November.
SG reported that Scotland had better resources than other parts of the UK but the regions were not working together. DLF noted that it had already been agreed that a Scottish Working Group would be set up and a report submitted to MDET to propose a way forward. Early development in this area would give Scotland the chance to influence the JRCPTB.
The Scottish Working Group would include SG (West), Jean Kerr (E), Jerry Morse (N), DLF (SE), NC (RCPE) and James Teirnan (trainee rep). Other individuals may be co-opted in as required. MW agreed to check with the DMEs group to discuss how best to represent the service.
Action: MW
It was highlighted that there is a need for the new group to remain focused in CMT.
The group acknowledged that the potential was already there for most of the work so costs should be negligible, which should assist in gaining MDET support.
4.2.Simulation Workshop 19.11.13
This was discussed above.
4.3.Recruitment 2014
SG reported that the arrangements for CMT 2014 recruitment were up to speed. The dates were set and the venues booked in Glasgow and Edinburgh. There were 42 applicants that morning but since the closing date was Thursday (final number of applicants – 227, slightly up on last year).
They had all the Consultants they needed for the panels and all had been reminded to do their Equality and Diversity training.
4.4.CMT Webinar
AMcL reported that the CMT Webinar had been very fruitful. They had 5 people in the panel and about 120 potential trainees registered, about 80% from Scotland and 20% from the rest of the world.AMcL thought that from the CMT perspective, this had been better than the BMJ Careers event.
The panel had had lots of questions which could be used to build up a FAQ. There was also a desire to build upon this Webinar to have another three in January.
It was further noted that the event was recorded and it would go to the website so it will be widely available.
Each Webinar costs about £1000, which is much better value than the BMJ Careers Fair, so, although NES presence is probably essential at the London event, MDET could re-think the number of people who are sent to it.
It was reported that the CMT Group in London had drafted a CMT Standards paper for programmes across the UK. Some of those standards would be unachievable in Scotland, so they should be considered as “aspirational” - desirable rather than mandatory. The group agreed to discuss this in more depth at the next Medicine STB.
Action: Agenda
- HST
- Recruitment 2014
DLF reported that NHS Lothian will be providing HR for all local recruitment in 2014, with the exception of Geriatric Medicine – who will be managed by NHS Fife. The HR staff are very experienced and they had the capacity. JM and Angela Riddell will lead on it.
DLF further noted that there were some new JRCPTB recruitment models:
- Local or Local Cluster, would be recruited in Scotland and allow applicants to apply to Scotland as one Unit of Application.
- Single Centre
- Large Cluster, involving Scotland within a wider grouping.
- Single Transferable Score. This means that the recruitment is held in a number of recruitment centres but the score is run across the UK, keeping in mind the trainee’s regional preference. If, for example, a trainee has Scotland as 1stUoA option but does not get it, then his score goes to his 2nd option UoA. The group required some clarification around the algorithm used so DLF would contact Adam Hill about it.
Action: DLF
It was reported that Renal Medicine and Rheumatology had been involved in Large Cluster recruitment last year but the feedback had been very negative. For next year, Renal Medicine would be part of a local cluster in Scotland, and Rheumatology would be in a single centre administered in KSS for all of the UK. The STB considered whether Scotland had been involved in any discussion before the Rheumatology decision had been taken. It seems that the Scottish SAC reps for Rheumatology had not been able to attend the last three SAC meetings in London. Since the decision was taken, the STB agreed that they would have to deal with it this year and see how the recruitment goes.
DLF noted that the first interviews at the beginning of March were only for non-JRCPTB specialties, as London would not complete longlisting/shortlisting until the end of March. Interviews would be held in April and May, in Glasgow and Edinburgh venues.
It was noted that Palliative Medicine had requested to be part of a larger cluster for next year’s recruitment.
The STB was provided with a useful updated “Big Picture” with all the expected CCTs until August 2014 and all additional vacancies, per region. SN was thanked for her efforts.
5.2.StART and possible Webinar
StART was progressing well. Jen Clelland had finalised her report which was now available for wider reading. The two main findings were:
- Confirmation that Foundation doctors make their choice of region based on unchangeable factors, such as location of family and friends.
- Higher trainees give more importance to work related factors, such as working conditions, quality of training and experience of the post.
AMcL agreed to send the paper to anyone interested.
The ScotMT website had been radically revamped, including content changes, so that trainees can find what they want more efficiently.
There are currently 46 Trainee Ambassadors, with the vast majority from the West. The STB was asked to promote this initiative again to get trainees from other regions and a variety of specialties.
Participation in the BMJ Careers Event had been quite beneficial, and for example Ronald MacVicar had reported that he had made very good contacts for Remote and Rural training.
The STB was offered the opportunity to have 1 Webinar for ST3 specialities in January. It was felt this should concentrate on a few high volume specialities where recruitment might be problematic. The STB agreed that AIM and MOE would be appropriate options and this would be discussed with National Leads that afternoon. It was suggested that Twitter “feeds”could be used for hard to fill small specialties and Webinars for bigger specialties with potential recruitment issues.
- Bid for training posts to Scottish Government
Paul Padfield’s paper had called for an increase of 10 in CMT and other increases in various HST specialties, but as indicated above, the paper was still awaiting approval. RP noted that at the SRDB meeting in the morning there had been very little hope that the paper would get approved.
- JRCPTB report
NC was not present but she would give her report at the afternoon meeting with the National Leads.
- Uniformity of ARCP across Scotland
DM reported that he was still waiting for the other three deaneries to send him the information about last year’s ARCP outcomes. DM would send a reminder to the admin teams of the deaneries and this item will be discussed again at the next meeting.
Action: DM and Agenda
- MCR – national approach for 2014 ARCPS
The Multiple Consultant Report (MCR) had been implemented in October and it was felt that there had been very little warning beforehand so there was an uneven awareness of it across both trainees and Educational Supervisors. The group agreed that MCR is a good tool, and the information had been forwarded to all TPDs with instructions to cascade to all ES and trainees.
After some discussion it was agreed to allow a degree of flexibility in the number of MCRs the trainees had to provide this year. A total number of 6 MCR will be aspirational this year, but the trainees will need some evidence of engagement. Outcome 5 will be issued to allow trainees to obtain MCRs from their current block but it will not be necessary to get retrospective reports.
The 6 MCR will definitely be mandatory for ARCP next year. APD’s were asked to ensure that the need for MCR was reinforced when ARCP invitations were sent out next year.
Action: All APD’s
MW indicated that she had not seen any communication about this from either TPDs or ES. DLF will send documentation to MW for distribution to DMEs.
Action: DLF
- Awards for Excellence in Medical Education and Training
RP explained that MDET had decided to create Awards for Excellence in Medical Education and Training to recognise and share best practice across Scotland. The Awards will be presented at the annual Scottish Medical Education and Training Conferences, which next year will take place in EICC, on the 6th of May. The awards ceremony will also give the winner the chance to give a short presentation about their work.
A small group had been formed to set up the awards.
RP asked the group to think about categories, themes, prizes and forward their ideas to DLF and AMcL. They will then be asked to forward nominations for the categories.
Action: All
- AOCB
There were no other businesses.
- Date of next meeting
14th January 2014, 1.30pm, Calman Room, 2CQ (with VC)
Item No / Item Name / Action / Who3.2 / Meeting with Scottish Government Health Advisor / To seek clarification from Ian Finley about changes in medical training numbers and about the residual Diabetes post in the North. / DLF
3.4 / Stroke recruitment / To chase up the coordination of trainees going into Stroke from ST3 / DLF
3.4 / Stroke recruitment / To ask Bill Burr about the Stroke programme going from 1 to 2 years / DLF
4.1 and 4.2 / Practical Procedures in CMT
and Simulation / To seek DME input to the Scottish CMT Simulation Working Group / MW
4.4 / CMT Webinar / CMT Standards paper from CMT Group in London to be discussed at next meeting / Agenda
5.1 / HST Recruitment 2014 / To seek clarification from Adam Hill about algorithm used in Single Transferable Score / DLF
8 / Uniformity of ARCP across Scotland / To chase up regional administrators for last year’s ARCP data.
To be discussed at next meeting / DM
Agenda
9 / MCR / To alert DMEs about the implementation of the MCRs for ARCPs.
APD’s to ensure reminders placed in ARCP invitation letters to trainees / DLF / MW
APD’s
10 / Awards for Excellence in Medical Education and Training / To forward ideas and suggestions for the creation of categories, themes and prizes, as well as nominations to DLF and AMcL / All
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