Core Medical Training
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| Core Medical Training | |
|---|---|
| Name | Core Medical Training |
| Abbreviation | CMT |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Established | 2006 |
| Predecessor | General Medical Council-regulated foundation programmes |
| Typical entry | Postgraduate medical degree holders |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Specialty | Internal medicine pathways |
| Managing body | Royal College of Physicians |
Core Medical Training
Core Medical Training is a postgraduate clinical training programme historically implemented in the United Kingdom to provide early specialty experience in internal medicine for doctors who have completed undergraduate medical qualifications from institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, King's College London, University College London, Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of Manchester, University of Birmingham, University of Leeds, University of Bristol, Newcastle University, Queen Mary University of London, University of Southampton, University of Nottingham, St George's, University of London, Cardiff University, University of Liverpool, University of Sheffield, and University of Dundee. Trainees historically progressed from this programme into higher specialty training pathways accredited by bodies like the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board and overseen by regulators including the General Medical Council and workforce planners such as Health Education England.
Overview
Core Medical Training aimed to consolidate acute and general internal medicine skills at hospitals affiliated with trust networks such as NHS England, Barts Health NHS Trust, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Free London, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. The programme interfaced with postgraduate examinations and professional milestones associated with institutions like the Royal College of Physicians of London and international frameworks used by bodies such as the European Board of Medical Specialists.
Structure and Duration
CMT was typically delivered over two calendar years across clinical sites including district general hospitals and tertiary centres such as St Thomas' Hospital, Royal London Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Aintree University Hospital, Derriford Hospital, Hull Royal Infirmary, and Royal Victoria Infirmary. Rotations included 4-6 month placements through acute medicine, specialty wards, and ambulatory care units with sessions in critical care settings at centres like Papworth Hospital or cardiology units at Royal Papworth Hospital. Oversight typically involved educational supervisors appointed through deaneries such as the London Deanery, North West Deanery, Wessex Deanery, East Midlands Deanery, West Midlands Deanery, Health Education Kent Surrey and Sussex, Scotland Deanery, Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency, and Health Education Yorkshire and the Humber.
Curriculum and Competencies
The curriculum emphasised competencies aligned with frameworks from the Royal College of Physicians and included acute assessment, clinical examination, investigation interpretation, procedural skills, and communication with multidisciplinary teams including links to institutions such as British Thoracic Society, British Cardiovascular Society, British Society of Gastroenterology, British Geriatrics Society, Royal College of Nursing, Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, and Resuscitation Council (UK). Trainees gained exposure to subspecialties with referrals to services at centres like Moorfields Eye Hospital for ophthalmology liaison, Great Ormond Street Hospital for paediatric interface, Royal Marsden Hospital for oncology collaboration, Hammersmith Hospital for transplant medicine, and St Bartholomew's Hospital for acute medicine expertise. Competencies were documented via workplace-based assessments monitored by regional offices such as NHS Education for Scotland.
Assessment and Examinations
Assessment combined workplace-based assessments, multi-source feedback, supervised learning events and performance reviews culminating in progression decisions informed by the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians examinations, notably the MRCP (UK) Part 1, MRCP (UK) Part 2 Written, and MRCP (UK) PACES. Performance review panels involved educational supervisors, clinical supervisors, and specialty training committees similar to structures in Foundation Programme assessments. Remediation pathways engaged organisations like Medical Royal Colleges and regulatory input from the General Medical Council where necessary.
Recruitment and Selection
Entry occurred through competitive national recruitment rounds coordinated by bodies such as NHS Jobs, regional recruitment centres and selection panels comprising representatives from trusts including Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. Shortlisting used portfolio scoring, situational judgement tests, and interview stations similar in design to methods employed by selection for other UK postgraduate posts overseen by Health Education England and local deaneries.
Career Progression and Outcomes
Successful completion enabled progression to higher specialty training in pathways such as cardiology, respiratory medicine, gastroenterology, geriatrics, infectious diseases and acute medicine under training programmes accredited by the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board. Alumni advanced to consultant roles within systems like NHS England and academic posts at universities including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, and King's College London. Other career outcomes included specialist registrar appointments, clinical lecturer roles linked with the National Institute for Health Research, and leadership positions within trusts such as Barts Health and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
International Variations
Equivalents and adaptations of early internal medicine training exist internationally with comparable pathways at institutions and regulatory bodies such as American Board of Internal Medicine, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, European Board of Internal Medicine, Singapore Medical Council, Medical Council of India, Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, Medical Council of Thailand, South African Medical Association, and New Zealand Medical Council. Training structures differ in duration, assessment emphasis, and integration with postgraduate examinations used by organisations like the European Union of Medical Specialists and national medical councils.