As we enter the autumn of 2022, we are still mindful of the challenges and consequences brought on by the pandemic. We continue to review all issues and please be reassured of the continued position of RCPI in relation to supporting the career progression of our Trainees.
Many of our trainee doctors have been on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are mindful of the enormous burden that has been placed on these doctors as a result of increased workloads, longer hours, and concern for their patients, colleagues and loved ones.
To ensure that standards in postgraduate specialist training are maintained, we have developed solutions to allow mandatory courses, study days, assessments and examinations to continue. We will continue to keep in regular email contact with Trainees and Trainers during this latest phase of the pandemic and as new arrangements are rolled out.
It is likely that our Trainers and Trainees will continue to focus much of their efforts on providing care to those who are ill with COVID-19. This will have an impact on training activities and could mean that trainees are redirected within the service.
Currently the priority is patient care/patient directed services and the provision of appropriate supervision to your activities both within and outside of your normal scope of practice as per Irish Medical Council guidelines.
Specialist training and education must however continue in so far as possible, and the health and wellbeing of our Trainees must receive attention during this challenging time.
To minimise the impact on training and education, RCPI has developed the following guiding principles:
Please be reassured of the continued position of RCPI in relation to supporting the career progression of our Trainees. Our priority since the pandemic began in spring 2020 has been to offer all components of our Membership examinations and in sufficient diets / to number of candidates, particularly RCPI’s BST trainees. The written examinations have been successfully delivered since June 2020. The clinical component of the MRCPI examinations recommenced in November 2020.
For current BST Trainees who intend to apply for HST Programmes to commence in July 2023, please be aware that you must have successfully passed your MRCPI Clinical examination in order to attend for interview. The interviews will commence at the end of January 2023.
Our health and wellbeing services remain open. All scheduled meetings will go ahead using either Skype or Zoom. We will be in touch with individuals who have already made arrangements to meet with us to set this up.
You will find health and wellbeing information here on our website
For immediate phone support please refer to the HSE Employee Assistance Programme
Otherwise, email us at wellbeing@rcpi.ie
During this time, we ask that you keep your ePortfolio as up-to-date as possible.
You can continue to log activities in your ePortfolio that don’t need sign off from a Trainer as you would normally record.
We understand that you may have issues getting your Trainer to sign off and this will be taken into account during Annual Evaluations.
If you have been deployed to another area and you are not in a position to fulfill your training requirements during this time, this will also be considered at Annual Evaluations and you will not be adversely affected.
During this time any Trainer you are working with can sign you off, this does not need to be your named Trainer. If you are unsure if someone is a Trainer please contact your training coordinator.
Our next annual Training evaluations will be conducted between May and June 2023. We will review the format ahead of these annual evaluations and publish this in spring 2023. We have received very positive feedback from Trainees and Trainers over the last two summers in delivering and supporting this important work which was done online.
Please check here for the latest updates on examinations
There are a number of Trainees who are enrolled on our international training programme working in training posts here in Ireland. Some of their Sponsors/Embassies have been in touch with Trainees advising them to return home. In these circumstances we have advised Trainees to follow the advice of their Sponsor/Embassy.
Similar to Trainees enrolled on the BST and HST training programmes, the provisions of the communication outlined above will also apply to international Trainees. We will continue to work closely with our international Trainees in these circumstances.
Under our current rules, final year Higher Specialist trainees are allowed to “act up” in a consultant post for three months during their final year.
We understand that in some sites senior Trainees are being asked to act up. Please note that acting up is only allowed and appropriate if a Trainee is in their final year of Higher Specialist Training.
Please note this does not apply to Obstetrics and Gynaecology - The rules around acting up remain the same and are not allowed by the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Please check here for the latest updates on courses and events
The Medical Council has asked us to make you aware of the following statement:
Any site designated as a clinical site in this emergency will be deemed appropriate for doctors on either the Specialist Trainee Division or the Supervised Division provided it is under the supervision of nearest hospital or a Senior Clinician. In the current health crisis doctors may be asked to perform duties that are outside their current scope of practice. We recognise this may be necessary, but all tasks and roles carried out should be within a doctor’s capabilities and with adequate supervision.
Should you have any queries please contact us at helpdesk@rcpi.ie
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