Introduction to the specialty

Speciality training scheme towards a career in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, incorporating a year in Accident and Emergency and Acute Medicine.

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

You can expect to work in teaching hospitals within Health Education North East, as far west as Whitehaven and as south-east as Middlesbrough.

You will gain a varied and exciting experience of acute medicine, as the region serves a large geographical area, incorporates both secondary and tertiary referral centres and includes major trauma centres.

Trainees are guaranteed a quality training experience, with supervisors allocated from both their current and parent speciality to oversee and support and dedicated protected teaching time.

It’s hard work in acute care, with a busy and often anti-social rota but working with dedicated and close teams and learning day on day with constant exposure to new experiences makes for job satisfaction, if you enjoy variety and challenge.

What are my career prospects?

Talking to more senior trainees, it seems that job prospects are good, provided you are committed to making the most of your training opportunities and building your portfolio.

What are the unique selling points of the specialty?

1.         It gives you exposure to all aspects of acute medical care, from the A&E to ITU.

2.         You will work with members of almost the entire hospital team through your training, giving you experience of how the hospital integrates as a whole.

3.         You will treat patients of all ages from a wide range of backgrounds.

4.         You will develop knowledge AND practical skills.

5.         Anaesthetics training, as part of ACCS, will give you a true apprentice experience.

Describe your specialty in three words to a potential trainee:

1. Varied

2. Challenging

3. Exciting!!

Please list any notable achievements or distinctions of the specialty within the north east and Cumbria –

The Royal Victoria Infirmary A&E facilities were upgraded as part of the £330m invested in “Transforming Newcastle Hospitals”, providing a purpose-built, dedicated trauma facility housing all relevant specialties and making Newcastle one of the largest emergency departments in the north of England.

Furthermore, the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, in Cramlington, Northumberland  has opened this year.  It is a state-of-the-art hospital and is part of the Trust’s £200million investment to improve healthcare for people in Northumberland and North Tyneside.  It is the first in England to have emergency care consultants on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.