All through my time on the RCP Trainees Committee (TC), medical teaching has confronted substantial challenges, significantly by means of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many trainees had been deployed by means of the pandemic, and sickness absence and out-of-hours rota gaps elevated, inserting pressure on the junior doctor workforce and affecting the specialty teaching experience. I joined the RCP Trainees Committee in 2019; my background is in medical education, and I considerably benefit from designing new packages and curricula.

I’m more than pleased to say that teaching options in Northern Ireland have elevated as a result of the height of the pandemic, and publicity to specialty teaching – for example, endoscopy and bronchoscopy lists, and gastroenterology and respiratory competencies – has improved (although this might fluctuate by perception). Nonetheless, we’re nonetheless seeing rota gaps and there have been some challenges adjusting to the updated specialty teaching curriculum and the introduction of an IMT3 12 months. We do recognise that the model new system is in its infancy, and naturally, we’re nonetheless in a transition part.

The pandemic was a steep finding out curve for many individuals. In my perform as TC guide, I was fascinated to check from the other TC representatives about their COVID-19 experience in several components of the UK; being part of the committee has been an unbelievable various to share expertise, meet new colleagues and research how progressive utilized sciences have reworked fashions of care.

For individuals who’re enthusiastic about what to do subsequent in your career, I’d extraordinarily advocate getting involved with the TC. Alternatively, ponder turning into a member of an space committee the place you can have an effect on change in your private hospital: it’s all superb experience you may carry into your specialty teaching. Actually, I’ll be stepping down shortly as RCP TC guide for Northern Ireland, and as I come to the highest of my time interval, it’s been pleasant to look once more at a couple of of the best bits. In 2021, I labored with Dr Melanie Nana (now the TC co-chair) to design an RCP ‘Title the med reg’ conference by means of which trainees research additional about taking on the medical registrar perform. This has since become an annual UK huge on-line event with practically 2,000 registered delegates ultimate 12 months. I’m more than happy with how worthwhile it’s become!

As for me, I’m about to finish my teaching as a tutorial scientific lecturer and gastroenterology registrar in Northern Ireland. Subsequent, I’m hoping to undertake a post-CCT fellowship, then change right into a scientific tutorial advertising guide gastroenterologist as a joint appointment between Queen’s School Belfast and the Belfast Nicely being and Social Care Perception.

There are a variety of unknowns in regards to the subsequent few months in Northern Ireland. I was part of the workers that developed an movement plan for the Stormont election, The time is now, and a follow-up briefing, The time is now: 6 months on. We’re moreover teaming up with the Royal School of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Royal School of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow to run an evening event for trainees and specialty docs on 1 March 2023: we want to use the findings from this dialog to confirm politicians understand the importance of remodeling the healthcare system. E-book your free place!

Personally, I’ll in all probability be making the case for funding in neighborhood and social care to chop again dimension of maintain, which in flip would improve working conditions for nurses, docs and allied effectively being professionals. What is going on to you choose as your priority for effectively being and social care in Northern Ireland?

Dr Andrew Spence

ST7 gastroenterology registrar, Belfast Nicely being and Social Care Perception

Tutorial scientific lecturer, Queen’s School Belfast

Uncover out additional in regards to the RCP’s protection and campaigns work in Northern Ireland and develop into concerned with the RCP Trainees Committee. Trainees and specialty docs in Northern Ireland, to e book your space at ‘An evening with the presidents of the royal faculties of physicians’ on 1 March 2023 at 7pm, go to our website.