OXFORD DEANERY SPECIALTY TRAINING PROGRAMME IN DERMATALOGY
PLEASE NOTE THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS CURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED
About Oxford Deanery
The Oxford Deanery covers the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, with Banburyand Milton Keynes in the North, to Readingand Slough in Berkshire and High Wycombe and Aylesbury in the West.
The Oxford Deanery is part of NHS South of England which comprises South Central, South West and South East Coast Strategic Health Authorities. The Oxford Deanery is responsible for the training of some 1500 trainees.
The Oxford Deanery is a relatively small deanery with a defined geographical area which serves as a single unit of application. In the majority of cases successful candidates will be asked to preference their choice of location for either one or two years. Some programmes will require successful candidates to indicate a location and specialty. Future placements will usually be based on individual training and educational needs. Please note that applications are to the Oxford Deanery as a whole. This may mean that you may be allocated to any geographic location within the Oxford Deanery depending on training needs.
The Dermatology Training Programme
The Dermatology training programme is a fouryear programme, starting at ST3. During this time, the trainee's work will be monitored for satisfactory progress and subject to annual reviews in the form of ARCPs. Progression on the programme will be dependent upon these reviews.
The posts on this rotation have been approved for Specialist Training by the Royal College of Physicians. The posts attract National Training Numbers and provide training towards a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).
The Postgraduate Dean has confirmed that this post has the necessary educational and staffing approvals.
The programme is based in several different Trusts throughout the Oxford Deanery so trainees may find themselves employed by any of the following Trusts and placed in any of the following hospitals:
Trust / Hospitals and LocationsBuckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust / Amersham Hospital, Amersham, Bucks
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust / Stoke Mandeville Hospital
Royal Berkshire Foundation NHS Trust / RoyalBerkshire Hospital
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust / ChurchillHospital, Oxford
Rotation Information
Rotations may at times change in response to clinical need from the Trusts. Expected rotation arrangements for this programme are:
The Oxford Regional Dermatology training scheme is a four year program involving training in any of the four hospitals across three NHS trusts. Each trainee will work in Oxford and Amersham in addition to one other centre, either Reading or Stoke Mandeville. The rotation may change depending on the number of trainees, but at some stage in the four years each trainee will have an opportunity to work at Oxford and at Amersham.
All centres provide training in general dermatology. Consultants in the region also have expertise in a number of areas including contact and environmental dermatitis, allergy, dermatopathology, photodermatology, cryosurgery, laser surgery, Mohs surgery, wound healing, blistering diseases, hair and nail disorders, vulval dermatoses, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, molecular genetics and genodermatoses.
Clinical and academic links with other specialities are encouraged. Combined clinics are held with colleagues in radiotherapy, plastic surgery, rheumatology and oral surgery. A dedicated clinic is held for the renal transplant patients Oxford.
Rotation / 01/08/2010 / 01/12/2011 / 01/04/2013 / 01/08/20141 / S / A / O / S
2 / O / S / A / O
3 / A / O / S / A
4 / R / A / O / R
5 / O / R / A / O
6 / A / O / R / A
S = Stoke Mandeville, O = Oxford, A = Amersham, R = Reading
- 3 completed training periods to complete 4 year Specialist Training Programme
An indicative training grid is shown. Precise time tables are flexible and may depend on the experience and interests of the trainees.
The on-call arrangements vary between centres and either have a non resident on-call rota or no out-of-hours on call. All conform with existing restrictions on Junior doctor hours.
The training committee has agreed that two sessions/week should be reserved for academic activity/Research/CME. It is an important general principle that one of these weekly sessions should be the trainees own i.e. used to reflect their own interests and attitudes. This is imperative to allow for research or extracurricula medical activities.
Trust Information
Oxford University Hospitals (Churchill Hospital)
The Department
The Oxford department is recognised as a centre of excellence, nationally and internationally, with a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching and a long tradition of research. The dermatology service in Oxford provides care for 600,000 people, including the population of Banbury. The purpose-built building, which houses the department of dermatology, was opened in 1993. Patients are admitted to beds (2-4) on the nearby infectious diseases unit.
Nurse led clinics, phototherapy and liaison nursing in the community are provided in addition to a comprehensive out-patient service. The department offers both general out-patient clinics and clinics dedicated to certain problems including allergy, eczema, psoriasis, bullous diseases, hair and nails, wound care, vulval diseases, phototherapy and paediatric dermatology. Surgical services include cryosurgery, laser surgery and micrographic (Mohs’) surgery. A clinical rotation ensures that registrars have an opportunity to work in each of the speciality clinics as well as develop their surgical skills.
Combined clinics are held with colleagues in radiotherapy, plastic surgery, immunology, clinical genetics, and oral surgery. A clinic is held for renal transplant patients. There are fortnightly MDT meetings
The academic programme in Oxford includes a monthly journal club, and monthly academic half day including subject reviews, audit and guest speakers. There are regular dermatopathology teaching sessions. There is a well equipped library and all registrars have office space and computer
Clinical research is encouraged.
Consultants
Dr Jonathon Bowling Lead Clinician
Dr Richard TurnerSurgical Lead, Moh’s surgery
Dr Susan Burge Director of Undergraduate teaching
Dr Vanessa Venning Bullous disease, phototherapy, Training Programme Director
Dr Susan Cooper Patch Testing, vulval dermatology
Dr John ReedSkin cancer MDT Lead, Allergy
Dr Graham Ogg MRC Fellow Academic dermatology Allergy
Dr Neil Walkerlaser lead
Specialty Registrars2
Visiting Australian Fellow 1
SHO (GPVTS) 2
Pre Reg House Officer (FY1)1
Duties of the Post
In addition to their out-patient work, they supervise patients attending for nurse led clinicsincluding patients receiving phototherapy.Out patient clinics are based both at the Churchill Hospital Oxford and the Horton Hospital Banbury. The registrars, assisted by the SHOs, supervise the care of in-patients. Registrars perform skin surgery including cryosurgery.
On-Call
The Oxford registrars participate in the on-call.
Royal Berkshire Foundation NHS Trust
The Department
The Department serves a population of 600,000, principally in West Berkshire and provides a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment service. Inpatient beds are on general medical wards. We run a community dermatology service so in addition to sessions at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, there are outpatient clinics at 4 community sites across the district.
Consultants (4):Dr Caroline Higgins (Clinical Lead)
:Dr Daron Seukeran
:Dr Rima Clayton
Dr Claire Patterson. Locum.
GPwSI :3 sessions
Specialist Trainee :1
Telephone:0118 322 8975
The Post
The main duties relate to outpatient clinics. The post includes 2 supervised general outpatient clinics at community sites, as well as a skin cancer clinic and minor surgery session at the RoyalBerkshireHospital. There are weekly MDT meetings and monthly departmental meetings. The trainee is responsible for seeing the ward referrals.
Study and Training
An office and computer are available for the registrar. Appropriate books and journals are available in the department and Postgraduate Centre Libraries. There is a monthly departmental meeting and academic links with Oxford .
Trainees are expected to undertake audit projects and present cases at the local grand round and the Royal Society of Medicine meetings, as well as contributing to local teaching programmes from time to time. Attendance at the Oxford Regional monthly meeting is also a formal part of the training programme.
On-call
The on call rota runs from 9am to 5pm and is shared on a 1;5 basis with the consultants. There is no out of hours on call commitment in this job.
Buckinghamshire NHS Trust
AmershamHospital
The Department
Winner of the 1995 Dermatology Team of the Year award, the centre is nationally recognised as a centre of excellence. It is sited in a purpose built building at AmershamHospital and incorporates outpatient facilities, a dedicated 12 bedded dermatology ward and research unit. The department provides a comprehensive secondary referral service for South Bucks (pop 320,000) and tertiary referral services in the field of Photobiology, Cutaneous Laser Surgery, Allergy, Contact Dermatitis and for in-patient care. In addition to general outpatient clinics, the department offers specialist clinics in allergy, cutaneous photosensitivity, phototherapy, industrial and environmental dermatitis, vulval skin diseases, wound healing, laser surgery, paediatric dermatology and Mohs’ surgery. The academic programme at Amersham includes a monthly journal club, and monthly academic half day including subject reviews, audit and guest speakers. There are regular dermatopathology teaching sessions. Trainees will have the opportunity to attend a number of the specialist clinics. Thursday afternoons are usually free for the trainees to spend at their discretion. We would encourage this time be spent taking advantage of the training offered at the Regional study days and at meetings at the Institute of Dermatology and the RSM London. The department is fully computerised and networked offering e-mail, telemedicine and internet links to a full range of online medical databases. IT training is also provided.
Consultants : Dr Sheru George (Photodermatology, Lasers)
: Dr Ravi Ratnavel (Dermatopathology)
: Dr Mohsin Ali (Dermatological Surgery)
: Dr David Orton (Contact Dermatitis and Allergy)
: Dr Sophie Grabczynska (Paediatric Dermatology)
: Dr Tracy Wong
: Dr Farhana Ravat (Genital Dermatology)
: Dr Katherine Acland (Dermatological Surgery)
: Dr Roy Palmer (Vitiligo)
Honorary Consultant : Dr Jackie Crawford (Genital Dermatology, Wound Healing, Allergy)
Director of Laboratory : Dr Carolyn Willis PhD (Immunocytochemistry)
Research Dr Lindsey Davies PhD (Non-invasive biotechnology, Clinical trials)
Trust Speciality Doctors: Dr Alex Stevenson
Dr Vincy Abraham
Medical/Clinical Assistant: Dr Andy Jordan
Specialist Trainees 2
SHO 1
Visiting Fellows
Speciality Tutor Dr Sophie Grabczynska
Telephone 01494 734637
Visiting Fellows: We normally allow one visiting dermatologist at a time and they usually come from Europe, Australia, New Zealand or the Middle East.
Duties of the post - The registrars assisted by the SHO will take it in turn to supervise in-patient care. There is a variable mix of general and specialist outpatient clinics which will routinely include a surgical session.
On call - There is a 1 in 5 (0900-1900) and afternoon (1300-1700) weekend non-resident on-call commitment covering the main hospitals in Mid and South Bucks.
Buckinghamshire NHS Trust
Stoke MandevilleHospital
The hospital serves a population of around 220,000.
During this part of the rotation, a senior Specialist Trainee will be given greater responsibility in preparation for award of the CCT and taking up a consultant post. A year 1-2 Specialist Trainee can expect greater direct supervision. There will be a General Outpatients with a mix of new and old patients, together with Specialist Clinics in Paediatric Dermatology, Combined Skin Tumour Clinic (including Plastic Surgery and Oncology).
The Registrar will receive specialist one to one teaching in basic Dermatopathology and will have the opportunity to review all clinical material passing through the unit as well as interesting cases from the Department of Plastic Surgery.
At least one day per week will be spent at AmershamHospital for exposure to further Specialist Clinics necessary for fulfilment of the curriculum - eg photodiagnostic investigation and Allergy Clinics. The Registrar can attend a clinic in genitourinary medicine each month.
Whilst at Stoke Mandeville the Registrar will have the opportunity by arrangement to attend and GreatOrmondStreetHospital for training in Paediatric Dermatology with Drs John Harper or elsewhere.
The Registrar will be given the opportunity to participate in research projects both in-house and collaboration with nearby Academic Units. A cross cover arrangement operates with the two Specialist Trainees based at AmershamHospital.
Consultants:Dr Ravi Ratnavel
Dr Mohsin Ali
Dr Sophie Grabczynska
Dr Tracy Wong
Trust Speciality Doctor:Dr Alex Stevenson
Dr Vincy Abraham
Clinical Assistant: Dr John Henderson
Specialist Registrar :1
SHO:1 (GP trainee shared with Rheumatology)
2 (1 shared with public health)
1 FY1 (shared with Rheumatology)
Educational Supervisor:Dr Ravi Ratnavel/ Dr Sophie Grabczynska
Telephone: (01296) 315551
Teaching
Arrangements for teaching vary from post to post:
- All three Trustshold monthly journal clubslocally
- There are regular sessions for dermatopathology teaching and clinical teaching in most centres.
- Academic half days including clinical cases, subject reviews, audit and guest speakers are held twice monthly_ all Regional trainees encouraged to attend (Oxford Regional Meeting 2nd Tuesday of the month and South Bucks Review Meeting 4th Tuesday of the month).
- Thursday afternoons are usually free for all Regional trainees to attendmonthly meetings at the St John’s Institute of Dermatology (1st Thursday) and the RSM London (3rd Thursday) or Specialist clinic at their discretion.
- Regional study afternoons (monthly 4th Thurs): topic teaching
Duties of Post
Registrars will do clinical work in out-patient clinics and in operating clinics performing skin surgery. In parts of the rotation they will supervise the care of in-patients.Registrars will provide a day time on call service for telephone advice and clinical review of urgent out patients and for seeing the ward referrals. The evening arrangements for on call advice vary between the three Trusts and is currently subject to review. Registrars will be expected to manage the administrationof their own clinical work (with appropriate secretarial support) as well as sharing of administrative tasks of the departments. Registrars will assist with teaching of other medical grades (FY1, FY2, ST1 and ST2) as well as medical students. Registrars are expected to undertake audits projects and are encouraged to do clinical research.
Main Conditions of Service
Appointments to this programme are subject to the Terms and Conditions of Service (TCS) for Hospital Medical and Dental Staff (England and Wales). In addition appointments are subject to:
- Applicants having the right to work and be a doctor or dentist in training in the UK
- Registration with the General Medical Council
- Pre-employment checks carried out by the Trust HR department in line with the NHS employment check standards, including CRB checks and occupational health clearance.
The employing Trust’s offer of employment is expected to be on the following nationally agreed terms:
Hours – The working hours for junior doctors in training are now 48-hours (or 52-hours if working on a derogated rota) averaged over 26 weeks (six months). Doctors in training also have an individual right to opt-out if they choose to do so, but they cannot opt-out of rest break or leave requirements. However, the contracts for doctors in training make clear that overall hours must not exceed 56 hours in a week (New Deal Contract requirements) across all their employments and any locum work they do.
Pay – you should be paid monthly at the rates set out in the national terms and conditions of service for hospital medical and dental staff and doctors in public health medicine and the community health service (England and Wales), “the TCS”, as amended from time to time. The payscales are reviewed annually. Current rates of pay may be viewed at Part time posts will be paid pro-rata
Pay supplement –depending upon the working pattern and hours of duty you are contracted to undertake by the employer you should be paid a monthly additional pay supplement at the rates set out in paragraph 22 of the TCS. The current payscales may be viewed at . The pay supplement is not reckonable for NHS pension purposes. The pay supplement will be determined by the employer and should be made clear in their offer of employment and subject to monitoring.
Pension – you will be entitled to join or continue as a member of the NHS Pension Scheme, subject to its terms and rules, which may be amended from time to time. If you leave the programme for out of programme experience you may have a gap in your pension contributions. More information can be found at
Annual Leave – your entitlement to annual leave will be five or six weeks per annum depending on your previous service/incremental point, as set out in paragraphs 205-206 of the TCS. The TCS may be viewed at
Sick pay – entitlements are outlined in paragraph 225 of the TCS.
Notice –you will be required to give your employer and entitled to receive from them notice in accordance with paragraphs 195-196 of the TCS.
Study Leave –the employer is expected to offer study leave in accordance with paragraphs 250-254 of the TCS. Local policy and procedure will be explained at induction.
Travel Expenses – the employer is expected to offer travel expenses in accordance with paragraphs 277-308 of the TCS for journeys incurred in performing your duties. Local policy and procedure should be explained at induction.
Subsistence expenses – the employer is expected to offer subsistence expenses in accordance with paragraph 311 of the TCS. Local policy and procedure should be explained at induction.
Relocation expenses –the employer will have a local policy for relocation expenses based on paragraphs 314 – 315 of the TCS and national guidance at You are advised to check eligibility and confirm any entitlement with the employer before incurring any expenditure.
Pre-employment checks – all NHS employers are required to undertake pre-employment checks. The employer will confirm their local arrangements, which are expected to be in line with national guidance at
Professional registration – it will be a requirement of employment that you have professional registration with the GMC/GDC for the duration of your employment. Though the post is covered by NHS Indemnity, you are strongly advised to register with the MPS for professional indemnity.