ACCS Training Scheme

Acute Care Common Stem

This training scheme encompasses the first 3 years of training following FP2 year. If you have a hankering to work in a dynamic acute speciality, this is the ideal start to your training. Ideally suited to those who plan a career in an acute hospital, it provides a solid base of experience and skills that will be developed further in whichever speciality you choose. You will gain structured experience in the skills needed to rapidly assess and appropriately treat sick patients, and take these skills forward through your training. Comprising 6-month attachments in Emergency Medicine, Acute Medicine, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine it leads to a career in one of these specialities. All schemes provide the 6 month attachments for the first 2 years. In the third year, a post is provided according to the chosen specialty. The 4 hospitals providing ACCS schemes are:

• UHW, Cardiff (8 posts)
• Morriston, Swansea (8 posts)
• Gwent, Newport (8 posts)
• Bangor (4 posts)
• Wrexham (4 posts)

You will remain in the same hospital for at least 2 years (usually 3) and therefore will be able to use this to develop your understanding of how care of the sick patient is organised and dealt with throughout the hospital. This will enable you in the future to communicate and understand the difficulties encountered by different areas in dealing with an acutely ill patient. Application to ACCS is through your chosen base speciality - you cannot apply for ACCS on its own. The specialities offering ACCS as an option in their training programme are Anaesthesia, Medicine and Emergency Medicine.

Anaesthesia: If you apply through Anaesthesia there are 8 slots available for ACCS training, which are distributed through all the hospitals. Those completing the first 2 years of ACCS will be provided with a year at CT3 level. Emergency Medicine: If you apply to Emergency Medicine, you will automatically undergo ACCS training, as it is the only route for Core Training. Following completion of the first 2 years of ACCS you will enter a CT3 year. Medicine: If you apply to train as a physician, there are 4 slots available for you to enter ACCS. Following completion of the first 2 years of ACCS you will enter an extra year at CT3 level to allow you to achieve the necessary medicine competencies. Intensive Care: Intensive Care Medicine is not yet able to run a stand-alone training scheme. You will have the opportunity to apply for a joint CCT in ICM at a later date. ACCS provides all you need at the lower level to set you on the right course. As things stand, following completion of ACCS you would require another 15 - 18 months of ICM. This could be provided by the add on training scheme if you were successful at interview later in your training. If you want a career in ICM, apply to one of the above specialities. Chris Thorpe: Lead for ACCS, Wales ACCS Guidance Wales Training October 2008 »