Overview

Academic development in the Midlands is supported in a variety of ways including registrar training days, regional audit, peer review and bi-annual Midlands Rheumatology Society meetings.

Consultant representative/ RCP regional specialty advisor: Karen Douglas
Nurse/AHP/psychologist representative:
 vacant
Paediatric and adolescent representative: 
Nicola Freeman
Trainee representative:  
Hirushi Jayasekera

Geographical area covered:
 Birmingham and the wider West Midlands area, Derbyshire, Dudley, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Solihull, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton

More information

Where rheumatology services are delivered
Rheumatology units across Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Birmingham and the Black Country. Haywood Hospital, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Warwick Hospital, Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Hereford County Hospital, The County Hospital, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and Birmingham Women’s and Children NHS Foundation Trust. Royal Derby Hospital, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Lincoln County Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre University Hospital, Diana, Prince of Wales Hospital, Ripley Hospital, and King’s Mill Hospital.

Where specialist training takes place
Royal Derby Hospital is actively involved in the education of undergraduates from the Nottingham Medical School and Derby graduate entry Medical School. There's also a weekly postgraduate Grand Round medical meeting at the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital as well as monthly audit and quality and safety meetings at the hospital. In the East Midlands, there's a protected training day once a month, usually on the first Friday. Topics are mapped to the curriculum to cover all areas during the period of training.

A practical procedure training day is held around August/September annually. An annual trainee research day provides an excellent opportunity for trainees to show-case work undertaken and hones excellence in presentation skills. GIM training days are held regularly, and dual trainees are expected to attend at least four in a year.

Regional activities:
  • Midlands Rheumatology Society hosts two scientific meetings a year (March and October), with the aim of exchanging knowledge and ideas on rheumatology and allied subjects and continued development of the specialty
  • Active programme of regional audit and rolling cycle of peer review
  • Smaller localised meetings (October and November)