Acute Care Common Stem - Emergency Medicine (ACCS-EM)

Programme description

GMC Reference: SES/402

The programme duration is three years in total with the first two years coering generic ACCS training with the final year being focussed on the trainee's chosen specialty.

In ACCS, years one and two will consist of 6 month placements in each of the four specialties, Acute Medicine, Anaesthesia, Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine.  After this, trainees enter specialty training in their chosen specialty for a further year.

From 2010, in all three ACCS specialties, trainees become eligible to progress to intermediate training after the third year.  In Scotland, applications are made through a parent specialty (AM, EM or Anaesthesia) with appointments made by that specialty.  The chosen specialty for the third year of training is therefore determined from the outset.  Subjects to satisfactory performance in the first two years of Core Training, progress to year three is automatic.

Clinical placements in the first two years may be at any of the hospitals in Lothian or Fife with a balance between central and peripheral attachments being achieved in each of the individual rotations.  In most cases, placements are for six months in each of the four specialties.

Although all ACCS training is not regarded as equivalent, it should be noted that opportunities to move between the specialties after year two are limited and would require a trainee to apply for this in compeition with other applicants through the appointments process.

Research, audit, teaching and management opportunities

Core Training in ACCS in South East Scotland is particularly suited to doctors entering directly from Foundation training.  It provides experience of working in a variety of types of hospital, in and around a major city, across a range of specialties dealing with acute illness.  Requirements for complimentary specialty training in Acute Medicine are met for those who are considering training in Intensive Care Medicine via the Anaesthesia route.

Where the training is delivered?

• Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh
• Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
• St Johns Hospital, Livingston
• Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
• Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
• Borders General Hospital, Melrose
• Stirling Royal Infirmary, Stirling

• Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (Acute Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine)
• Western General Hospital, Edinburgh (Acute Medicine, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine)
• St. John's Hospital, Livingston (Acute Medicine, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine)
• Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy (Acute Medicine)
• Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh (Year 3 Emergency Medicine)
• Borders General Hospital, Melrose  (Year 3 Anaesthesia)
• Stirling Royal Infirmary (Year 3 Anaesthesia)

Contacts and useful links

Information
Programme type (Deanery or National):	Deanery
Administration office:	South-East
Lead Dean / Director:	Professor Adam Hill
Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP):	Dr Graeme McAlpine
Specialty or Sub-specialty:	Specialty
Date of GMC recent approval:	May 2010
Associated Royal College - Faculty:	Royal College of Anaesthetists
Curriculum and associated assessment system:	http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/general_internal_medicine.asp
Programme administrator:	Name: Alan Summers Address: NHS Education for Scotland Glasgow, G3 8BW Email: Alan.Summers@nhs.scot
Programme director(s):	Name: Dr Gillian Pickering Address: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Email: gillian.pickering@nhs.scot
Quality of training:	Quality Management

How to apply

This page was last updated on: 19.02.2025 at 11.57