INTRODUCTION:

In South Thames there are two full Schools of Anaesthesia and these are based in the eastern and western halves of the region. In South Thames West anaesthesia centres on rotations associated with St George's Hospital, while in the South Eastern School (South Thames East) training involves rotational schemes associated with Guy's and St Thomas' hospital and King's College hospital. The South Coast School of Anaesthesia has formed in the last 2 years but currently only provides SpR years 1-3 within its territory - SpR 4 is spent in one of the London Teaching Hospitals. The London Deanery is responsible for SESA and South Thames West, and KSS Deanery for the South Coast School. All share a common appointment process but the rotational schemes within each of the three Schools are quite separate. The Schools compete for the best candidates.

This prospectus outlines the organisation of the South Eastern School of Anaesthesia.

APPLICANTS

In order to be appointed to the SpR grade you must:

• have full or limited registration with the General Medical Council (GMC)
• have spent at least 2 years in training as SHO in anaesthesia, of which 3 months must have been in intensive care medicine (ICM), and one year must have been in a recognised post in the UK.
• have passed either Parts 1 and 2 of the old FRCA or the new Primary FRCA (alternatively, passes in examinations taken overseas which the RCA recognises as having equivalent status will be accepted - refer to RCA for details).

Appointment to the SpR grade is by properly constituted appointments committees which in S. Thames (E) currently appoint twice yearly for entry in February and August. An advertisement appears in the BMJ for 1 week only (usually in Sep/Oct and Mar/Apr). The appointment process is run by the Deanery.

MMC

There are no more SpR appointments to be made after the end of December 2006 and it is envisaged that no SpR will start later than February 2007. From August 2007 the regulations of MMC (see MMC page) mean that current SpRs continue through the programme but all new appointments are to Specialty Training.