We welcome trainees to Oxford (Thames Valley) as a centre for excellence in Infection training. We pride ourselves in a closely integrated programme incorporating Infectious Diseases (ID), Medical Microbiology (MM) and Internal Medicine (IM). The region has a nationally recognised Bone Infection Unit and close links with the University of Oxford, including its Tropical Research Network, with a strong record in academic training.
ID/MM is a 5 year training programme and ID/IM is 4 years. A maximum of 12 months credit may be approved by the JRCPTB for research periods. The current training structure can be found here: https://www.jrcptb.org.uk/specialties/infectious-diseases-and-tropical-medicine. In Oxford the programme offers training for a CCT in ID/MM or ID/IM (ID/Medical Virology is not available). Entry is at ST3 level after achievement of IMT2 or IMT3 and MRCP (or equivalent). Applications to CIT are through National recruitment run by NHS England. Flexible training options are available.
Trainees will rotate to posts in microbiology/virology (in Oxford or Aylesbury), infection consults, infectious diseases in-patient care and IM/ID (Oxford, Banbury and/or Slough). In addition the Oxford training Programme delivers training in direct patient care of complex bone and joint infections on the Bone Infection Unit, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.
A new rotation has been established with Ealing General Hospital where trainees may spend 6 months gaining experience of a diverse Infectious Diseases case mix. The deanery collaborates with Wessex Deanery and opportunities exist for delivery of ID training in Southampton too. Options exist, by negotiation, to do ITU (mandatory for those doing ID/IM), to spend periods in genito-urinary medicine, paediatric infectious diseases and in public health.
The department has very high success rates for specialty examinations and receives consistently excellent feedback from trainees in GMC surveys.
To find out more about training in Infection in the UK see: https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/education-practice/advice/specialty-spotlight-infectious-diseases.
Particular areas of excellence
Trainees are encouraged to develop research interests. There are regular Academic Clinical Fellow and Academic Clinical Lecturer posts available for suitable qualified trainees. Many trainees make applications for fellowships to extend their research experience. There is a wide range of opportunities with a large number of Research Groups in a number of different departments within the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Centre and the Medical Sciences Division of Oxford University (https://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk). These include the following:
- Nuffield Department of Medicine
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Sciences (including Microbiology)
- Paediatrics
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics
- Primary Care
- Zoology
- BRC Infection Theme
- BRC Immunity Theme
- BRC Vaccinology Theme
Many of these groups closely collaborate with units in the Oxford Tropical Network in e.g. Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Kenya (https://www.tropicalmedicine.ox.ac.uk)
If you have any queries about the training scheme please contact the TPD: Dr Ivo Elliott, Consultant in Infection at ivo.elliott@ouh.nhs.uk. For academic opportunities contact Dr David Eyre, Consultant in Infection at david.eyre@bdi.ox.ac.uk.
In addition the Oxford training Programme delivers training in direct patient care of patients with complex bone and joint infections on the Bone Infection Unit, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. This is a popular and unique module and many requests are received for clinical attachments and observerships from other centres across the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.