Dear Colleague
The Cardiology Specialist Training Committee (SAC) has asked us to provide
a document detailing how we feel future electrophysiologists and device
specialists should be trained. We feel this is a critical and exciting role for the
heart rhythm community as a whole and we should embrace it enthusiastically
and positively. This will define how our juniors are trained over the next ten
years at least, (for some of us the remainder of our working lives!!) and
hopefully will provide the numbers of specialists required to deliver adequate
care and future NSF’s to our patients. It should also give us an opportunity to
tailor training to consultant posts.
As is usual the time frame for submission of this document is short. The aim is
to present final draft at an EP session at the British Cardiac Society in May.
Although the document has to be detailed enough to cover all aspects of
advanced arrhythmia care it will not be written completely in stone as there
are plans to review it, probably annually, but broadly speaking it must
encompass a detailed provision for training and assessment. There will also
be a requirement to determine who should be trainers and what defines a
training centre.
At the BCS annual scientific conference it is proposed that the contents of the
document be discussed and presumably ratified. There will be members of
the JCHMT and the Royal College present. The College will see this as a
defining moment in their attempt to get subspecialty recognition generally
accepted. Therefore it will be vital that, as a group, we present a united and
positive front.
This web-page has been created to disseminate the training document to all
of you so that you can comment on the contents and help us to construct a
robust and unified approach to training of our juniors over the next ten years.
Please send us your comments by Monday 9 May 2005. We will need your
views and criticisms before the document is submitted to the College. That
way any differences we may have will be discussed and ironed out between
us before any meetings at the BCS. Time is short and we look forward to
driving this exciting opportunity forward for the future of heart rhythm UK.
Below is a list of the chapters and authors who have agreed to take part:
Use and misuse of antiarrhythmic drugs – Campbell Cowan
Pacing – Mike Gammage/Neil Sulke
Pacing/ICD Lead extraction – Gerry Kaye/Mike Gammage
ICDs – Derek Connolly
CRT – Vince Paul
PSVT – Guy Hayward
Mechanisms of arrhythmias and advanced electrocardiography –
Professor Cliff Garratt
General Management of Atrial Fibrillation – Janet McComb
Atrial flutter/fibrillation ablation – Richard Schilling
Ventricular Tachycardia ablation – Steve Furniss
Transeptal catheterisation – Adam Fitzpatrick
Blackouts – Adam Fitzpatrick
Research Training – Professor Stuart Cobbe
We would plan to update you with each chapter as it comes along. There will
be a time delay of about 1 month before the chapters will be ready. We would
urge you to get involved and send in your comments to either myself
(Gerry.Kaye@Hey.nhs.uk) or Adam Fitzpatrick,
(adam.fitzpatrick@cmmc.nhs.uk). Please also disseminate this information to
your colleagues as you see fit, particularly those who pace but do not take
part in electrophysiology.
Dr Gerry Kaye MD FRCP
Dr Adam Fitzpatrick MD FRCP FACC