Speciality: Combined Infection Training - Infectious Diseases - Medical Microbiology
Since 2015 training in infectious diseases, medical microbiology and medical virology is delivered across the UK with a new joint RCPath and JRCPTB curriculum. In Scotland, the Medical microbiology and Medical virology programmes provide dual training with Infectious diseases and the Infectious diseases programme are dual training with General Internal Medicine.
These programmes consist of 2 years of Combined Infection Training (CIT) followed by 3 years of higher specialty training in one of Medical microbiology (MM) with Infectious Diseases or Medical virology (MV) with Infectious Diseases, or Infectious diseases with General Internal Medicine (GIM).
Recruitment to all 3 specialties is managed through national recruitment to CIT, trainees will apply to and be appointed to MM/ID, MV/ID or ID/GIM programmes with National Training Numbers (NTN) being issued accordingly. It will not be possible to change programme at the end of CIT without going through a separate recruitment process.
Combined training is an exciting approach to training in infection specialities as it combines both the clinical and laboratory aspects relevant to patient care, and means that all trainees will gain in depth knowledge about the significant advances in molecular technology and their impact on patient care. The 2 year common CIT programme consists of one year in ID (clinics and in-patient care) and one year in microbiology and virology.
On call commitments form part of the training programme, and for all trainees during CIT this may include covering general medical wards and/or participating in acute unselected medical take, in addition to infection specialties.
MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
The 2 years of CIT will be divided into a year in microbiology and virology followed by a year in ID (or vice versa).
Medical Microbiology (including virology, mycology & parasitology) involves a varied and interesting work experience that involves laboratory based practical work, laboratory management, clinical liaison, infection control, health protection and research & audit etc.
During the year in microbiology and virology, trainees will acquire both basic skills in the laboratory and gain experience in clinical microbiology and virology in a variety of clinical settings. In the latter part of this period trainees will have opportunities to gain experience in management of a variety of infections in both adults and children.
Learning opportunities will include participating in duty microbiology teams, ‘infection ward’ rounds, ward rounds in specialist units including intensive care units.
All the large teaching centres offer opportunities of participating in multi-disciplinary meetings in specialist units including haematology/oncology (including Bone Marrow Transplantation), Cardiothoracic Surgery (including Cardiac transplantation), solid-organ transplant, neurosurgery, orthopaedics etc .
The trainees will also have opportunities to gain some experience in infection prevention and control activities.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH, AUDIT TEACHING and MANAGEMENT
There are many opportunities to take part in research projects, laboratory and clinical audits. All training centres offer these within departments, in affiliated reference laboratories (see below) and local university departments. Trainees will also have opportunities to participate in undergraduate teaching. Trainees will also participate in management activities which are an integral part of quality improvement.
All 4 regions offer opportunities for full time research carried out as OOPR. Around 50% of trainees are doing research for higher degrees. Trainees can also apply to do research outside their deaneries either within Scotland or in other centres in the UK.
Information on applying for academic posts in Scotland is provided on /specialty/scottish-academic-training-(screds).aspx
Educational Opportunities: There are excellent educational opportunities at each of the centres. There is also a national CIT tutorial programme hosted in Edinburgh and trainees around Scotland participate via videoconferencing. This popular programme is supported by consultants across the infection specialties and has attracted invited speakers from academia and public health.
University Hospital Crosshouse, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Clydebank, University Hospital Monklands, Airdrie, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley , The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Glasgow
West of Scotland
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital - This new hospital, Scotland’s largest, offers most general specialities but includes specialist units such as: Regional Neurosciences, Paediatrics a large general ITU, a large Glasgow–wide renal unit, Regional Infectious Diseases Unit etc). The laboratories provide the microbiology and virology service to the remaining specialities on the Gartnavel General Hospital site – which included the West of Scotland Cancer Centre (Beatson) – comprising of oncology, haemato-oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation.
The microbiology service in South Glasgow moved into a purpose built ‘state of the art’ laboratory building on this site in 2012.
Glasgow Royal Infirmary - includes a large and busy ITU, the Regional Burns and Plastics Unit and a large Surgical Unit including specialist pancreatic surgery etc. Microbiology Department at GRI also includes four Scottish Microbiology Reference Laboratories: namely the Pneumococcus, Legionella, Haemophilus and Meningococcus; MRSA; Salmonella, Shigella and Clostridium difficile; and Parasite reference laboratories.
The West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre which was one of the first in the UK to introduce molecular testing into the routine laboratory setting.
Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Clydebank - has the West of Scotland regional services for cardiothoracic surgery and specialist cardiology. It also contains the National (Scottish) Cardiac Transplant Centre and provides the opportunity for experience in a tertiary centre.
Royal Alexandra Hospital Paisley - a busy 700 bedded District General Hospital which includes in patient paediatrics and offers excellent DGH experience.
Monklands Hospital, Lanarkshire (Infectious Diseases)
District General Hospitals: including Monklands Hospital, and Crossshoue Hosital, Ayrshire possible rotations for bench training.
| Programme Type | Deanery based or National: Deanery |
| Administration office | North of Scotland |
| Lead Dean / Director | Professor Alan Denison |
| Responsible Associate Postgraduate Dean or Assistant Director (GP) | Dr Clair Evans |
| Specialty or Sub-specialty | Specialty or Sub-specialty: Specialty |
| Date of GMC recent approval | January 2015 |
| Associated Royal College - Faculty |
Royal College of Pathologists (web site) |
| Curriculum and Associated Assessment System | http://www.gmc-uk.org/education/medical_microbiology.asp |
| Programme Administrator: |
Named Programme Administrator:
Dianne Morrison
Address: NHS Education for Scotland Forest Grove House Foresterhill Road Aberdeen AB25 2ZP Tel: Email: Dianne.Morrison@nhs.scot |
| Programme Director |
Programme Director Name: Dr Anna Jarchow-MacDonald Address: Tel: Email: Anna.Jarchow-MacDonald2@nhs.scot |
| Quality of Training | Quality Management |