The Training Programme Director – Dr Hilary Tedd

Specialty Programme Co-ordinator – Joanne O’Brien

People Services Officer - Lead Employer Trust - Allyson Ashwell / Christian Collins 0191 275 4783/4753

Why Choose Respiratory Medicine?

The breadth of conditions presenting with respiratory symptoms is wide and makes a career in Respiratory Medicine both challenging and very rewarding. Respiratory Medicine is a Dual Accredited Specialty with GIM.

There are many practical procedures which include pleural procedures, chest drains, indwelling pleural catheters for complex recurrent pleural effusions, bronchoscopy, interventional bronchoscopy with EBUS-FNA and airway stenting, and medical thoracoscopy.

Respiratory medicine has direct involvement with the management of respiratory failure with provision of non-invasive ventilation services as well as a close relationship with Intensive Care Medicine where some trainees choose to dually train.

Respiratory Medicine is a major specialty involved in acute GIM with approximately 30% of all acute admissions in GIM being for a primary respiratory problem.

Respiratory physicians have expertise in cardiopulmonary physiology which often forms the basis of respiratory diagnosis. Respiratory physicians work closely with primary care and are closely linked to the development and provision of integrated care services supporting early discharge, hospital at home and pulmonary rehabilitation services for COPD as well as other conditions.

Subspecialty areas such as lung transplantation, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension and occupational lung disease are available to all trainees within the programme.

To match the wide range of conditions and challenges there is a wide ranging research into these different areas offering both laboratory and clinical areas research. Trainees, both previously and currently, have engaged in out of programme reseach with prestigious funding and fellowships leading to MD/PhDs high impact publications and academic careers.

As a trainee what can I expect from my training programme?

The programme offers the most complete experience of any in the country blending general respiratory medicine and GIM with nationally/internationally recognised subspecialty training opportunities. All posts provide a wide range of experience in both the in-patient and out-patient settings, including all required practical procedures. Curriculum competencies are met through rotations between large specialist units and smaller hospitals and use a modular approach to ensure all training requirements for areas such as pulmonary transplantation, pulmonary hypertension, cystic fibrosis, occupational lung disease and specialist sleep medicine. The respiratory curriculum requirements for intensive care are provided locally with dedicated attachments within rotational posts. Trainees are placed according to needs and training opportunities available at the time

The structured teaching programme blends weekly registrar/consultant led teaching with monthly sessions that include academic journal clubs, academic speakers, SCE focused master-classes. The GMC NTS has recognised the excellence of the teaching programme in the region. First time SCE pass rates of trainees in the programme are very high. Trainees will also be part of a vibrant North of England Thoracic Society where they will have opportunity to present. There is a prestigious annual NETS award for StRs and many trainees have been winners / finalists of the BTS Clinical Grand Round.

The training programme is very supportive of Out of Programme experience wherever possible and current trainees have been engaged in NIHR research, HEE leadership/management and even humanitarian work with MSF.

Trainees are represented on the STC and the committee values input from our trainees, working closely with the trainees and using local trainee surveys to correct what isn’t right and continually seek to improve the trainee experience.

What our trainees say:

….“As a respiratory registrar in the Northern Deanery, I have always felt well supported by my educational supervisors, and encouraged to develop my skills, knowledge and experience beyond simply meeting the ARCP requirements. With their encouragement, last year I presented at and won the national BTS clinical grand round prize at the Summer BTS, which was a fantastic opportunity. I work less than full time, with a young family, and have found the deanery to be supportive of my training needs as a LTFT, allowing me the work-life balance that I now enjoy.”……

….“The respiratory training programme is excellent: there is weekly respiratory teaching for all registrars which is attended by senior respiratory consultants, as well as monthly consultant-led teaching. Exposure to all aspects of the respiratory curriculum is provided at hospitals within the region”….

…..“My training in the Northern Deanery has always been excellent and I've never considered moving elsewhere. The hospitals are undoubtedly busy but the staff are always happy to make an effort and take the time teach and train. Choosing Respiratory medicine, having sub-specialist experience in transplant and pulmonary hypertension on your door step has cemented my opinion that I made the right choice.”….