In this section
Internal Medicine Training (IMT) replaced Core Medical Training (CMT) from August 2019.
Within the NHS England North West there are two distinct IMT Training Programmes – Mersey and North West.
The North West Programme is divided into three Sectors; each provides the same high standards but offers a differing flavour of training:
- Lancashire and South Cumbria (LSC)
- Greater Manchester North & West
- Central Manchester South & Central
There are four hospital Trusts with seven sites in the Lancashire and South Cumbria Sector (LSC):
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (Royal Preston Hospital & Chorley & District General Hospital)
- Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Trust (Blackpool Victoria Hospital)
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust (Furness General Hospital & Royal Lancaster Infirmary)
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (Blackburn Royal Hospital & Burnley General Hospital)
Recruitment is to the 3 year Internal Medicine programme, though we recognise some IMT’s may not wish to go into the third year.
Posts in all of the major medical specialties are available in the North West scheme.
| IM1 | 3 x 4-month posts (usually including Care of the Elderly) |
| IM2 | 2 x 3-month posts (including Intensive Care Medicine) and 1 x 6-month post in another medical specialty |
| IM3 | 2 x 6-month posts (including Care of the Elderly if not had during IMT1) |
The majority of IM Resident Doctors will be based in 1 site for each year of the programme; some will not be in the same hospital in years 1 and 2 and a small proportion of IM tracks rotate between the Sectors, although most will remain within the same Sector for IM1 and IM2.
The North West School of Medicine aims to ensure that there is sufficient exposure to clinical medicine during Internal Medicine training to satisfy the curriculum, and all tracks will include a post in Geriatric Medicine (Care of the Elderly), as recommended by the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) and also a post in Intensive Care Medicine.
A wide range of other specialities are also included within the programme including Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Haematology, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Neurology, Oncology, Renal Medicine, Rheumatology and Respiratory Medicine.
As well as Trust-provided teaching sessions for Internal Medicine Resident Doctors, each Sector also runs IM Sector Teaching Programmes and the Lancashire & South Cumbria Sector runs full-day teaching bi-monthly. The venue rotates through different hospitals in the Sector to involve each of the hospital Trusts, with the programme designed to support the delivery of the curriculum; we receive excellent feedback for these sessions. Clinical Procedure Skills Training and Simulation & Human Factors Training are provided by the individual trusts within the Sector.
For more Internal Medicine Training information please visit the following:
NHS England North West website: https://www.nwpgmd.nhs.uk/Specialty_Schools/Medicine/Core_Medical_Training
Internal Medicine Lead Employer: https://leademployer.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/doctor-hub
JRCPTB: https://www.thefederation.uk/training/specialties/internal-medicine
