Curriculum - Cardiology Training (2010, with 2016 amendments)
Curriculum - Cardiology Training (2022)
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Cardiology Training Programme
Cardiology training is a higher specialist medical training programme starting at ST4 level following completion of core Internal Medicine training. The programme is suitable for doctors who meet the essential criteria in the person specification to enter this level of training and is designed to provide opportunities for trainees to achieve the competencies described in the 2022 Cardiology Curriculum. Training is a five-year programme (ST4 to ST8), leading to the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Cardiology and Internal Medicine.
The initial 2-3 years constitute core training, in which the trainee gains basic Cardiology and ongoing Internal Medicine experience. They should develop competencies in assessment of cardiac patients and non-invasive cardiac investigations as well as core cardiology procedures - echocardiography, angiography and temporary and permanent pacemaker implant. During this time, they will have opportunity to be exposed to coronary intervention, electrophysiological procedures, cross-sectional cardiac imaging and nuclear imaging. At the end of core training selection for sub-specialty training takes place, following which trainees will spend more time in tertiary cardiac and cardiac surgical care. The subspecialty modules are in interventional cardiology, electrophysiology and pacing, cardiac imaging, heart failure and adult congenital heart disease. The final year of training (ST8) constitutes completion of sub-specialty training as well as a final period of Internal Medicine training.
The cardiology training programme is delivered across two separate regional rotations - Mersey and North West. All placements will be allocated by the relevant Training Programme Director on behalf of the School of Medicine.
Progress within the training programme is subject to an annual review carried out by the Educational Supervisor, Training Programme Director and members of the Specialty Training Committee (Cardiology). As well as confirming satisfactory progress, the annual assessment will allow for flexibility within the training programme tailored to suit each post holder.
Regional Teaching Programme
Trainees are expected to attend the regional training programme jointly delivered by the Mersey and North West rotations.
Research
Trainees will be expected to develop a research interest throughout the training programme and retain a commitment to audit. A half day per week at all sites will be allowed for carrying out and developing research and audit. Trainees will be encouraged to publish all data and present data nationally and internationally and the extent of research will be closely followed and examined during the ARCP process. Trainees are encouraged to consider a period of out-of-programme training to pursue a higher degree, usually taken at the end of ST4 or ST5.
Women in Cardiology
It is well recognised that women are under-represented in cardiology training and consultant posts with only 19% of the consultant workforce and 31%of cardiology resident doctors being female (2024 data). There are a variety of reasons for this, including the lack of female role models, concerns about the training programme being less ‘female-friendly’ than other programmes and exposure to radiation. Many resident doctors express concerns about being accepted into this exciting and fulfilling specialty. In recognition of this, the Women in Cardiology mentoring scheme was developed. It has now been taken over by the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS) but you need to be a BCS member to access this. However, any enquiries should be directed to wic@bcs.com and they will try and help informally for any non-members. In addition, there are lots of useful resources on their webpages: https://www.womenincardiology.uk/ which is soon to be updated.
Training Programme Director
Dr Clare Hammond
Email: Clare.Hammond@lhch.nhs.uk
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Trust
Thomas Drive
Liverpool
L14 3PE
The first years of training will be based in a District General or University Hospital under the supervision of one or more cardiology consultants recognised as trainers by the GMC. During this period, there will be continued exposure to acute medicine and cardiology and the resident doctors (RDs) will supervise the acute medical take. On-site catheter labs are available in some DGHs with exposure to coronary angiography and bradycardia pacing. Most hospitals provide opportunities to learn cardiac CT. There will be close links with the tertiary cardiac centre (Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital) and RDs will be encouraged to interact with the cardiac surgical staff, attend meetings at the hospital and will have opportunities to spend time in the labs.
This training will be principally undertaken at one of the following hospitals:
After satisfactory completion of core cardiology training, RDs will undertake advanced specialist area training, usually at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital. During this period, there will be training in the RD’s chosen area of interest.
Progression through training posts can be varied year to year and tailored to meet the individual’s training needs. Training capacity in advanced specialist area modules is good, but there may be competitive entry into popular modules based on a transparent selection process reflecting competencies, research output and technical skills.
The majority of rotations will be annual in August and specific posts and training requirements will have been discussed both at the annual ARCP and the mid-year reviews.
Training Programme Director
Dr Matthew Luckie
Email: matthew.luckie1@nhs.net
Blackpool Victoria Hospital
Whinney Heys Road
Blackpool
FY3 8NR
Core cardiology training years and generally spent in one of the regions district general hospitals:
The core cardiology years will include ongoing exposure to general medicine, including general medical on-call. On-site catheter labs are available in several DGH hospitals where exposure to coronary angiography, intervention and pacemaker / device implants may begin within the years of core training. Visiting sessions to the tertiary centres are often available from DGH rotations.
Tertiary cardiology experience will generally begin in ST6 with an aim for at least 6 months placement in one of the regions tertiary cardiac centres:
In tertiary centres, there is no commitment to the general medical on-call rota, but trainees will be resident on-call for cardiology, including participation in the primary PCI rota. Subspecialty training will mostly take place in the tertiary centres however there is requirement for ongoing Internal Medicine training in your final year which will generally involve some time spent in a DGH hospital – in which case we aim to ensure the DGH hospital is able to continue to provide sub-specialty training experience.
The rotations are planned on a 6-monthly basis, considering the training requirements of all trainees in the programme to ensure posts match requirements for each trainee. We try to keep trainees in most centres for 12 months where possible.
General Internal Medicine (GIM)
For more information on GIM please see - General Internal Medicine (GIM) | The Federation