South West Peninsula Deanery

What is Core Medical Training?

Core Medical Training (CMT) is basic training in acute hospital medicine.  It encompasses all of the major acute disciplines and provides the stepping stone for progression into all of the medical specialties.  At present, CMT training takes two years and results in the reward of a certificate of completion of CMT from the Royal College of Physicians.  More details about CMT training, the CMT curriculum, and higher specialty training in medical specialties can be found on the JRCPTB website.

CMT in the Peninsula

CMT training is available at all five of the acute trust in Devon and Cornwall:

• North Devon Healthcare Trust
• Plymouth Healthcare Trust
• Royal Cornwall Healthcare Trust
• Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Trust
• South Devon Healthcare Trust

Successful applicants will spend two years at one trust, rotating through four or six-month posts in medical disciplines.  Rotations provide a broad training in general medicine, and satisfy requirements for completion of CMT.  In addition, trainees will be exposed to a variety of medical specialties including inpatient and outpatient responsibilities to help them choose a specialty to apply for at ST3 level, once CMT is completed.

Why CMT in the Peninsula?

By choosing to do CMT in the Peninsula, you will be opting for the unique experience of undertaking well-established medical training in one of the most beautiful locations in the UK.  CMT rotations in Devon and Cornwall have traditionally attracted high-calibre trainees, and each trust has a well-established teaching programme.

In the past, success rates for the MRCP PACES exam have been high and trainees have been successful in obtaining ST3 posts, both in clinical medical specialties and also in Academic training posts.  The area is very popular with trainees, with many opting to stay on in the Deanery for their higher specialist training even before the brief era of ‘run-through’.

Educational Supervision

Each trainee will have their own dedicated educational supervisor who will guide them through their two years of training, offering advice on career progression, examinations, work-based assessments, and the working of the RCP e-portfolio.

The CMT programme is run by a dedicated team, which forms part of the School of Medicine.  CMT is currently led by Dr Nick Withers (Royal Devon & Exeter) with College Tutors based at every trust.  The team have excellent administrative back-up at the deanery, and meet regularly to review training and trainees’ needs.

When you are not at work!

Living in the area offers excellent opportunities for many leisure activities.  Beaches, rugged coastline, Dartmoor and Exmoor, and the beautiful countryside of Devon and Cornwall offer numerous possibilities for those outdoor pursuits, such as surfing, sailing, walking and mountain biking.  The major conurbations offer equal opportunity to pursue less physical pastimes, such as shopping, restaurants and the theatre.

More information can be found by visiting the section on the website entitled ‘A Guide to the South West’.

Contact details:

South West Peninsula Deanery
Raleigh Building
Phase 4
Tamar Science Park
Derriford
Plymouth
PL6 8BY

Email: pen.strhelpdesk@southwest.nhs.uk