HEALTH EDUCATION THAMES VALLEY - ACADEMIC CLINICAL FELLOWSHIP
IN RADIOLOGY (ST1)
Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) posts have been awarded by the NIHR to
University/NHS Trust/Deanery partnerships nationally through competition. Oxford
has been very successful in attracting ACF and Clinical Lecturer posts to date. These
posts form part of the NIHR Integrated Training Pathway, further details of which can
be found on the NIHR TCC website: http://www.nihrtcc.nhs.uk. The Oxford Radiology
ACF Programme has been running for 7 years, and has currently 4 ACFs in post, and
3 previous ACF’s who are now undertaking DPhils.
Please note: for 2016, in addition to the academic interviews, candidates will be
required to attend and pass a clinical interview for the specialty they are applying to
for academic training, if appropriate. Offers made will therefore be conditional upon
meeting the required standard in the clinical interview. Please check the FAQs
(http://www.oxforddeanery.nhs.uk/pdf/2015 Applicant NIHR ACF FAQs.pdf) on the
HETV website for more information.
About Health Education Thames Valley
We are the Local Education and Training Board (LETB) for Thames Valley covering
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Our vision is to ensure the delivery of
effective workforce planning and excellent education and training to develop a highly
capable, flexible and motivated workforce that delivers improvements in health for the
population of Thames Valley. Thames Valley LETB is responsible for the training of
around 2000 Foundation and Specialty trainees.
Health Education Thames Valley is a relatively small organisation with a defined
geographical area which serves as a single unit of application. In the majority of cases
successful candidates will be asked to preference their choice of location for either
one or two years. Some programmes will require successful candidates to indicate a
location and specialty. Future placements will usually be based on individual training
and educational needs. Please note that applications are to the Health Education
Thames Valley as a whole. This may mean that you may be allocated to any
geographic location within the deanery depending on training needs.
The Radiology Training Programme
The Radiology Training Programme (RTP) is a 5 year programme, starting at ST1.
During this time, the trainee's work will be monitored for satisfactory progress and
subject to annual reviews in the form of ARCPs. Progression on the programme will
be dependent upon these reviews.
The posts on this rotation have been approved for Specialist Training by the Royal
College of Radiologists. The posts attract National Training Numbers and provide
training towards a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). The Postgraduate
Dean has confirmed that this post has the necessary educational and staffing
approval and the post will attract an NTN (a).
The programme is based in several different Trusts throughout the Health Education
Thames Valley so trainees may find themselves placed in any of the following
hospitals:
Trust
Oxford University Hospitals
NHS Trust
Royal Berkshire NHS
Foundation Trust
Hospitals and Locations
John Radcliffe Hospital
www.ouh.nhs.uk
Churchill Hospital
www.ouh.nhs.uk
Horton General Hospital
www.ouh.nhs.uk
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
Royal Berkshire Hospital
http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/
Buckinghamshire Healthcare
NHS Trust
Frimley Health NHS Foundation
Trust
Milton Keynes Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust
Stoke Mandeville Hospital
http://www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/
Wexham Park Hospital
https://www.fhft.nhs.uk/
Milton Keynes General Hospital
http://www.mkgeneral.nhs.uk/
1.
DUTIES OF THE POST
Principal Responsibilities:
a)
Radiology reporting, practical radiological procedures, computed tomography,
MRI, ultrasound and radio nuclide (nuclear medicine) procedures. Clinical
consultation and advice to clinicians. Some supervision of the work of more junior
doctors.
b)
Description of Working Pattern
Specialist Registrars begin doing on-call at the beginning of the second year. There
is a “Senior” and “Junior” specialist registrar partial shift on-call rota with registrars
carrying out tasks compatible with their level of experience.
The on-call includes
cover for colleagues during their absence due to illness and annual leave. On-call
duties may occur at the John Radcliffe Hospital, the Churchill Hospital and Nuffield
Orthopaedic Centre. On-call registrars are supported by 5 Consultants on-call, with
separate consultant rotas covering cross-section, intervention, paediatrics, musculoskeletal and neuroradiology. The on-call rotas will depend on the number of
specialist registrars who are eligible to take part in the senior rota and the junior rota.
On-call duties on the junior rota do not commence until after the first year. Transfer
to the senior rota usually occurs at the beginning of Year 3. Compliance with the
EWTR is frequently assessed and work patterns may be changed to ensure
compliance.
Academic Clinical Fellows have 1 day /week when they are released from clinical
duties and assigned to research.
c)
Research
25% of the 3 yr post will be spent developing and pursuing a research project.
Further details below in Training & Research section.
d)
Teaching
Informal teaching and occasional formal lectures to trainee Radiologists and
Radiographers.
Pre clinical or clinical medical student teaching.
Occasional lectures to nurses and paramedical staff.
e)
Administration/Management
Work and on-call rota organisation.
Assessment of radiological requests and liaison with clerical and radiographic staff
to arrange radiological investigations.
Completion of reports and records as appropriate.
Audit.
2.
TRAINING AND RESEARCH:
Please note: for 2016, in addition to the academic interviews, candidates will be
required to attend and pass a clinical interview for the specialty they are applying to
for academic training, if appropriate. Offers made will therefore be conditional upon
meeting the required standard in the clinical interview. Please check the FAQs
(http://www.oxforddeanery.nhs.uk/pdf/2015 Applicant NIHR ACF FAQs.pdf) on the
HETV website for more information.
a)
Clinical Training Scheme:
The Oxford Scheme provides structured, comprehensive training over 3 years for
FRCR and thereafter post fellowship training leading up to consultant appointments.
The programme is heavily based on clinical radiology experience, supplemented by
teaching courses and clinico-radiological conferences. This post will have an
NTN(a).
Practical experience is obtained in a rotational series of subspecialty firms, almost all
of which contain an element of general radiology. Participating firms are based at
the John Radcliffe Hospital (JRH), Churchill Hospital (CH), Horton General Hospital
(HG), the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC), Wexham Park Hospital, Slough
(WPH), the Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals, Reading (RBH), Stoke Mandeville
Hospital (SMH), Wycombe General (WG) and Milton Keynes General Hospital
(MKGH).
First Year (Part I FRCR) Training
During their first year trainees will take part in the following rotation:
3 month Introductory block with MSK radiology teaching,
GI block with fluoroscopy examinations (eg barium studies) and Nuclear Medicine
CT
Ultrasound
These are based at the JRH and selected DGHs
The Part I FRCR course is designed jointly by the Department of Radiology and the
department of Medical Physics and is a weekly day-release course.
The NOC department provides a course in the radiology of trauma. First year
registrars are also encouraged to attend the Contrast Media Study Day of the
London Course in Radiology. Part I FRCR examination practice is organised by the
department of medical physics.
Years 2 and 3 Rotation
This rotation is designed to prepare trainees for Part 2a modular and Part 2b
practical components of the FRCR exam. Attachments are based both within Oxford
and at DGH’s. The rotation is based on 3-month attachments that cover the
following subjects:
Gastro-Intestinal Radiology
Uroradiology/Gynae and Cardiac radiology
Chest radiology and oncology
Neurosciences, and Head and Neck radiology
Paediatrics
Interventional radiology
Breast imaging
DGH attachment
The Part 2 FRCR course consists of a systematic series of tutorials, given over two
academic years and delivered by consultants from the Oxford region and from
elsewhere in the country.
The course is designed to cover the Part 2 FRCR
syllabus by the end of the third year.
Individual subspecialty tutorials are given by many consultants as preparation for
FRCR.
A “licensing” reporting skills examination is organised the second year, after which
trainees may issue certain reports unchecked.
Years 4 and 5 /6
The core training is complete by the end of Year 3. Training in Years 4 and 5 is
designated as “higher training” and is designed to be more flexible and tailored to the
aims of individual trainees.
Subspecialist training will be based both in the
departments in Oxford and around the region; Areas of subspecialty experience
include, neuroradiology, oncology, musculoskeletal radiology, uroraradiology,
ultrasound, body CT/MRI, angio/interventional radiology, breast imaging, paediatrics,
chest and general radiology.
Interventional radiology and interventional neuroradiology training have a separate 3
year curriculum which commences at year 4 and which involve a sixth year of
training. Limited numbers of posts are available for this additional sixth year, by
competitive appointment during year 3.
Research:
There are excellent opportunities for research, and it is expected that the successful
candidate(s) will partake in the research programmes that are ongoing as well as
become involved in new projects. The research component of the Radiology ACF
programme is on a one-day per week basis to be taken every week for the three
years as protected research time. This allows time for develop of research
experience and the development of a research area and project that should lead to
applications for a higher degree and external body grant funding.
There is an Translational Physiology theme and a Surgical theme within the Oxford
Biomedical Research Centre both co-led by Professor Gleeson, and a Clinical
Imaging Programme within the CRUK/EPSRC Oxford Cancer Imaging Centre, all
providing opportunities for research. There may also be opportunities to work in the
Functional MRI of the brain (FMRIB) center at the John Radcliffe, and with the newly
formed Academic Health Science Imaging Network.
There are external University groups involved in Imaging research that collaborate
with Radiology and provide opportunities for novel computing, data analysis and
histology/genetic trials
The ACF research and training programme is based at the Churchill, under the
supervision of Professor Fergus Gleeson. There are research facilities available in
the Radiology department and adjacent labs on campus including the Doctoral
Training Centers. Help with research is provider by the BRC Imaging Research
Programme Director and the Research Radiographers
The main opportunities for research are in:
Thoracic Imaging including hyperpolarized xenon, nodule analysis and pleural
disease
Oncology
Molecular Imaging – PET-CT, SPECT, MRI
Tumour Ablative therapies – MWA, HIFU
FMRIB
MRI
PET-CT
There are also strong links with clinical groups providing access for research:
Respiratory medicine
Oncology
GI surgery
Neurology
There are ongoing research programmes in modeling and tumour behaviour with
the:
Department of Computer Science – Professor D Gavagan, Computational Biology,
Institute of Biomedical Engineering - Professors Brady, Noble, and Coussios
The ACF programme encourages access to research training modules run by the
University and the trainees will be expected to join these. There is also training in
clinical and research governance.
The ACF is assigned an academic supervisor to help with project progression and
develop of new projects and grant applications.
At the end of the 3 year ACF programme if doctoral funding or a further clinical
academic post is not secured the Fellow will revert to full-time clinical training within
the training programme.
Facilities for Study and Training:
Good Library facilities are available at the John Radcliffe Hospital and at other
libraries in the Central Oxford Hospitals. Local facilities include the Radcliffe
Science Library, Cairns Library and departmental libraries.
Regular continual assessment will be undertaken by consultant trainers at the end of
each firm. At the end of each year an annual assessment and appraisal of each
specialist registrar will be undertaken by the Training Committee and progression to
the next year of the training program will be dependent on a satisfactory
assessment. It will be mandatory to maintain a Log Book and the personal portfolio
during the training period.
Postgraduate Medical Education & ACF support:
Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (Parts 1 and 2): There is a formal
course for both the Part 1 and Part 2 FRCR.
ACFs are also member of Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School
which runs seminars, provides a free Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Health
Research and supports the clinical academic programme with funding for
conferences.
Department Members
40 Specialist Registrars participate in the rotational scheme currently, including 6
non-rotating Specialist Registrars in Neuroradiology and Interventional Radiology.
Key member of the School Board are:
Dr J Phillips-Hughes (Head of School)
Dr N Taylor (Training Programme Director)
Dr Z Traill
(Regional Specialty Advisor)
Dr M Bratby ( RCR College Tutor)
Prof FV Gleeson ( Academic Lead)
Section B
The major hospitals within the rotation are listed below with some of the specialties
represented. The Churchill, John Radcliffe and Horton are a common Trust (The
Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals) on three sites.
John Radcliffe Hospital
The base of the Oxford Clinical Medical School.
The acute admission hospital with a major accident and emergency, and trauma
services, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatal and Paediatric services, General
Medicine and Acute General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Cardiac Services.
The Churchill Hospital
Cancer, Haematology and Diagnostics Centre with Elective Surgery.
Chest and Renal Medicine, Urology and Infectious Diseases
The Horton General Hospital (Banbury)
A District General Hospital with Capio DTC on site.
The West Wing (JR Site)
Neurology and Neurosurgery, ENT and Ophthalmology, Craniofacial Surgery.
The Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
Orthopaedic Surgery and related subjects including Rheumatology.
Wexham Park Hospital
General Radiology in a District Hospital.
Royal Berkshire & Battle Hospitals
General Radiology in a District General Hospital with an opportunity to gain further
specialised training in areas such as CT, MRI, ultrasound and mammography.
Stoke Mandeville Hospital
General Radiology in a District Hospital with an opportunity to gain further
specialised training in imaging and spinal injuries.
Milton Keynes General Hospital
General Radiology in a District General Hospital with an emphasis on skill mix and
related issues.
Contacts for further information:
Head of School
Dr Jane Phillips-Hughes
01865 235732
Academic Programme Director
Professor Fergus Gleeson
01865 223684
Main Conditions of Service
Appointments to this programme are subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service
(TCS) for Hospital Medical and Dental Staff (England and Wales). In addition
appointments are subject to:
 Applicants having the right to work and be a doctor or dentist in training in the
UK
 Registration with the General Medical Council
 Pre-employment checks carried out by the Trust HR department in line with
the NHS employment check standards, including CRB checks and
occupational health clearance.
The employing Trust’s offer of employment is expected to be on the following
nationally agreed terms:
Hours – The working hours for junior doctors in training are now 48-hours (or 52hours if working on a derogated rota) averaged over 26 weeks (six months). Doctors
in training also have an individual right to opt-out if they choose to do so, but they
cannot opt-out of rest break or leave requirements. However, the contracts for
doctors in training make clear that overall hours must not exceed 56 hours in a
week (New Deal Contract requirements) across all their employments and any
locum work they do.
http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/need-to-know/european-working-timedirective
Pay – you should be paid monthly at the rates set out in the national terms and
conditions of service for hospital medical and dental staff and doctors in public
health medicine and the community health service (England and Wales), “the TCS”,
as amended from time to time. The payscales are reviewed annually. Current rates
of pay may be viewed at
http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/pay-and-reward/pay/pay-andconditions-circulars/medical-and-dental-pay-and-conditions-circulars Part time posts
will be paid pro-rata
Pay supplement –depending upon the working pattern and hours of duty you are
contracted to undertake by the employer you should be paid a monthly additional
pay supplement at the rates set out in paragraph 22 of the TCS. The current
payscales may be viewed at
http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/pay-and-reward/pay/pay-andconditions-circulars/medical-and-dental-pay-and-conditions-circulars
The pay supplement is not reckonable for NHS pension purposes. The pay
supplement will be determined by the employer and should be made clear in their
offer of employment and subject to monitoring.
Pension – you will be entitled to join or continue as a member of the NHS Pension
Scheme, subject to its terms and rules, which may be amended from time to time. If
you leave the programme for out of programme experience you may have a gap in
your pension contributions. More information can be found at
http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions
Annual Leave – your entitlement to annual leave will be five or six weeks per annum
depending on your previous service/incremental point, as set out in paragraphs 205206 of the TCS. The TCS may be viewed at
http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/pay-and-reward/nhs-terms-andconditions/junior-doctors-dentists-gp-registrars/junior-doctors-terms-and-conditionsof-service-and-associated-documents
Sick pay – entitlements are outlined in paragraph 225 of the TCS.
Notice –you will be required to give your employer and entitled to receive from them
notice in accordance with paragraphs 195-196 of the TCS.
Study Leave –the employer is expected to offer study leave in accordance with
paragraphs 250-254 of the TCS. Local policy and procedure will be explained at
induction.
Travel Expenses – the employer is expected to offer travel expenses in accordance
with paragraphs 277-308 of the TCS for journeys incurred in performing your duties.
Local policy and procedure should be explained at induction.
Subsistence expenses – the employer is expected to offer subsistence expenses in
accordance with paragraph 311 of the TCS. Local policy and procedure should be
explained at induction.
Relocation expenses – the employer will have a local policy for relocation expenses
based on paragraphs 314 – 315 of the TCS and national guidance at
http://www.nhsemployers.org/PayAndContracts/MedicalandDentalContracts/JuniorD
octorsDentistsGPReg/Pages/DoctorsInTrainingJuniorDoctorsTermsAndConditions150908.aspx
You are advised to check eligibility and confirm any entitlement with the employer
before incurring any expenditure.
Pre-employment checks – all NHS employers are required to undertake preemployment checks. The employer will confirm their local arrangements, which are
expected to be in line with national guidance at
http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/recruit/employment-checks/nhsemployment-check-standards
Professional registration – it will be a requirement of employment that you have
professional registration with the GMC/GDC for the duration of your employment.
Though the post is covered by NHS Indemnity, you are strongly advised to register
with the MPS for professional indemnity.
Health and Safety – all employers have a duty to protect their workers from harm.
You should be advised by the employer of local policies and procedures intended to
protect your health and safety and expected to comply with these.
Disciplinary and grievance procedures – the employer will have local policies and
procedures for dealing with any disciplinary concerns or grievances you may have.
They should advise you how to access these, not later than eight weeks after
commencement of employment.
Educational Supervisor – the employer or a nominated deputy (usually the Director
of Medical Education) will confirm your supervisor on commencement.
General information on the LETB’s management of Specialty Training
programmes, including issues such as taking time out of programme and dealing
with concerns or complaints, is available at www.oxforddeanery.nhs.uk and in the
national ‘Gold guide’ to Specialty Training at http://specialtytraining.hee.nhs.uk/.
Please ensure that you inform Health Education Thames Valley of any changes to
your contact details.
September 2015