INTERNAL MEDICAL TRAINING (IMT)

Internal medical training (IMT) has replaced core medical training since August 2019. It is a training programme that forms the first years of post-foundation training for the majority of medical specialities. The programme is designed to prepare doctors with the skills and competencies required to become a medical registrar. At ESNEFT there is the opportunity to complete rotations within a wide range of medical specialities. There are 2 rotations that are compulsory within IMT training; care of the elderly and intensive care medicine. All rotations (apart from intensive care medicine) include participation in the on-call medical rota which involves clerking the acute medical take and out of hours ward cover.

Curriculum

It is a requirement of IMT doctors to meet capabilities in practice set out by the Joint Royal College of Physicians Training Board.

Trainees will have an opportunity to help manage the acute take towards the end of year 2 with the view to managing the acute take with indirect supervision in year 3.

There is a further requirement by the end of IMT year 3 to complete the MRCP(UK) diploma examination in order to progress into registrar training (ST4). There is generous study leave funding to attend extra-curricular courses including simulation, procedural skills and dedicated PACES teaching.

ESNEFT offers support for IMT doctors completing the MRCP (UK) diploma. This includes funding for a PACES examination course and examination resources such as free access to BMJ examination.

Training Opportunities

The majority of training opportunities will occur in the clinical setting. These include consultant-led teaching ward rounds, practising procedures on the ward, managing acutely unwell patients and the acute medical take. However, there are a number of training opportunities in the simulated setting including simulation days, virtual reality training and clinical skills courses. We run an IMT clinical skills course which will provide an opportunity to practise core procedures.

Part of the internal medical training curriculum requires trainees to have experience in the outpatient setting. At Ipswich hospital, this experience is allocated into your rota as a 1month block where you are able to attend as many clinics as you would like. This 1-month block is during your intensive care placement. At Colchester hospital, you will have dedicated clinic time (clinic weeks) built into your rota throughout the three years.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time spent working in Ipswich and the broad range of specialties and training opportunities offered here. Notably, there is generous study leave funding to attend extracurricular courses including simulation, procedural skills and dedicated PACES teaching. The introduction of a self-directed 'clinic month' also allows you to attend an array of speciality clinics and facilitates mandatory practical skills. This is not only useful in terms of achieving ePortfolio targets but helps to broaden your experiences.

Working at a large general district hospital affords a great many development opportunities, which can be more difficult to attain in busier tertiary centres. However it is the close knit community here at Ipswich which I have found to be particularly special. The hospital has an excellent reputation for offering high quality medical training in a friendly and supportive environment. The doctors’ mess is also renowned as being one of the best in the country.

With excellent training prospects on offer, I would highly recommend choosing Ipswich if you are considering a place to start internal medicine training.

Dr Michelle Richardson, IMT1, Ipswich Hospital