East Kent is not only home to one of the largest NHS Hospital Trusts in England but also consists of some excellent locations in terms of both living and working! East Kent is made up of five districts: Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Shepway and Thanet. The East Kent area is a beautiful and varying landscape, with charming seaside towns such as Margate, Whistable and Ramsgate as well as the beautiful city of Canterbury! Canterbury itself is a very popular Cathedral City, with many landmarks and attractions that draw visitors from all over the world, with an estimated population of around 47,000. As stated previously, the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest hospital trusts in England, consisting of five main hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of 695,000 people. The Trust has a national and international reputation for delivering high quality specialist care, particularly in urology, kidney disease, and vascular services. For those looking to work directly within the City of Canterbury, the Kent and Canterbury Hospital provides a range of elective and planned care as well as treatment for minor injuries and illness. The Hospital also has a postgraduate teaching centre and staff accommodation.   Facts About East Kent Between Canterbury, Herne Bay, Whitstable and Faversham, the Blean is among the UK’s largest areas of ancient woodlands and recognised for its importance to local wildlife. The white chalk cliffs of Dover are around 136 million years old. There have been 105 Archbishops of Canterbury since 597 compared with 203 Popes William Harvey, the physician who 'discovered' blood circulation was born in Folkestone in 1578! Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest in England, parts of it dating from the 6th century. A 17th century bell is still rung every day to open and close the cathedral. Canterbury city gave its name to a musical genre, the Canterbury Scene, a type of progressive rock music, in the early 1970s. Today, the popular Canterbury Festival is held annually.   Cost of Living in Canterbury Please note, the following costs apply to the City of Canterbury and may differ throughout South Kent dependent on the specific location and/or district. Cost of Renting Accommodation per month One-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre £716.67 One-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre £575.00 Three-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre £1197.50 Three-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre £880.00   Transportation 1ltr Petrol £1.28 One-Way Public Transport Ticket £3.75 Monthly Public Transport Ticket £100.00 1km Taxi Journey £1.24   Entertainment Meal out for two in a local pub £28.00 Meal out for two in a mid-range restaurant, 3 courses £60.00 Cinema tickets for two people £16.00 One-month gym membership £29..17 Tennis court rental for 1 hour on the weekend £17.33 Beer 0.5ltr bottle £4.50 Coke/Pepsi 0.33ltr bottle £1.23 Cappuccino £3.00   Time it Takes to Travel by Train from Canterbury to Cities in the UK City Time it Takes to Travel London 1 Hours 37 Minutes Bristol 3 Hours 40 Minutes Manchester 3 Hours 39 Minutes Newcastle 4 Hours 25 Minutes Birmingham 3 Hours Liverpool 3 Hours 54 Minutes Edinburgh 5 Hours 56 Minutes   Education in East Kent: East Kent has a huge variety of schooling options to choose from when addressing Education for children and these differ dependent on each district. According to the Kent Council School and Education finder tool, Canterbury has access to 35 primary schools and 9 Secondary, Dover 41 Primary and 9 Secondary, Thanet 31 Primary and 8 Secondary, Ashford 43 Primary and 7 Secondary. To find out more information about term dates, applications, standards, curriculum and general education, visit the Kent County Councils website here. Canterbury is also home to one of the University of Kent’s campus’s, which now has around 16,500 students from 158 nationalities and a very cosmopolitan feel. The University itself is one of the country’s leading academic institutions producing world-class research, rated internationally excellent and leading the way in many fields of study.   Things to do in East Kent: Dreamland: Margate The park is a year-round outdoor and indoor event programme as well as a year-round amusement arcade, retro roller disco and children’s soft play area - all less than 90 minutes from London. The park is free to enter and opens on selected weekends and during the school holidays. Dreamland is also fast becoming a popular music venue, with Gorillaz and Sara Cox selling out their tours here. This is a great destination for Family’s looking for a fun day out in East Kent. The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge is an Art Gallery, Library and Visitor Information Centre situated in the heart of historic Canterbury. This award winning facility provides state-of-the-art exhibition galleries, excellent educational facilities and a varied programme of events for all ages. The museum exhibits include Egyptian and Greek artefacts, local Anglo-Saxon finds, ethnographic exhibits, minerals and natural history specimens. Walmer Castle and Gardens Explore over eight acres of award-winning gardens, situated in the grounds of a picturesque coastal castle with a fascinating history. Walmer Castle was once a Tudor artillery fortress that became a stately-home for the Lords Warden of the Cinque Ports, including the Iron Duke of Wellington. Explore the castle with a multimedia guide, and hear previously untold stories of the castle and famous residents from its history.   Wingham Wildlife Park Wingham Wildlife Park is Kent’s fastest growing wildlife park, nestled just outside the beautiful cathedral city of Canterbury, in Kent. As a family-owned park, they’re proud to house the largest number of animal species out of all wildlife parks and zoos in Kent - whether you’re looking for tigers, flamingos, bats, penguins or even the adorable red panda.   Relocation to East Kent If you’re an international doctor looking to relocate to East Kent, or another location in the UK, please email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your journey to relocate to the UK. Are you a member of our Facebook group? When you join IMG Advisor, you join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of vlogs and blogs to the group every day. We will also be on hand to answer all of your relocation queries. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 60 videos on everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS! Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go to IMG Advisor the Podcast. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this.   References Ekhuft.nhs.uk. 2020. Kent & Canterbury Hospital - East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 September 2020]. Struttandparker.com. 2020. East Kent Area Guide | Strutt & Parker. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 September 2020]. Ekhuft.nhs.uk. 2020. About Us - East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 September 2020]. Living, C. and Kingdom, U., 2020. Cost Of Living In Canterbury. [online] Numbeo.com. Available at: [Accessed 14 September 2020]. Kent.ac.uk. 2020. About Kent - About Kent - University Of Kent. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 September 2020]. English Heritage. 2020. Walmer Castle And Gardens | English Heritage. [online] Available at: [Accessed 14 September 2020].  

  General Medicine is the largest field of medicine in terms of the number of different pathways and individual specialisms.  More specifically, Respiratory Medicine is one of the largest specialties, with respiratory diseases affecting 1 in 5 people in the UK. Approximately one third of all acute admissions to hospital are the result of primary respiratory problems. This provides great NHS career and learning opportunities within Respiratory Medicine. This Blog Article aims to provide specific insight into Respiratory Medicine and what to expect when working within this field in the NHS. As an international recruitment company, BDI Resourcing recommend that international Doctors aspiring to work within the NHS in Respiratory Medicine, take the MRCP route to their GMC Registration.   What should I expect? Working as a Respiratory Medicine Physician, you will have the option to participate in “medical takes”, where you will see patients admitted to hospital with different medical problems. In this context you will be practising general medicine, rather than acute respiratory medicine. Regular ward rounds, where the medical staff visit and review each patient are an important part of the job. It would be usual to attend about two ward rounds each week. Ward rounds are led by the consultant, who also supervises foundation doctors, medical trainees and specialist trainees. You will be working closely on the wards with specific teams of Nursing staff and respiratory physiotherapists. It is important to note that multidisciplinary team meetings are a vital part of respiratory medicine, where different doctors and other staff meet to discuss the progress of individual patients. You will also meet with radiologists and pathologists. Most respiratory physicians will be expected to work some out of hours work in addition to typical day time hours, including nights on call and weekends because of the acute medical take. Of course, whilst it is impossible to predict the daily interventions you may be carrying out on a day to day basis within the NHS, you will commonly be practicing the following procedures and techniques: Pleural (Lung) Ultrasound Bronchoscopy Thoracoscopy Inserting Stents Endobronchial Ultrasound Thermoplasty Insertion of indwelling catheter “Developing new services such as difficult asthma clinics, sleep services, respiratory high dependency units, or tuberculosis contact tracing clinics is also a large and rewarding part of the job,” says Dr Burhan, respiratory consultant at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital, Liverpool.   Where will I be working? Due to Respiratory Medicine being such a large field of medicine, Respiratory Physicians may work in a variety of different settings alongside a variety of different departments and colleagues. You may be asked to see patients who are under the care of the intensive care unit, surgical teams, haematology and oncology, cardiology, neurology and many more, essentially meaning that you could be working in any department within the Hospital. More specifically, Respiratory physicians within the NHS will likely work closely with colleagues in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU), providing advice; since so many acute conditions involve respiratory problems.  Similarly, Respiratory Medicine specialists will often work closely with Radiologists when a patients chest or breathing problem requires an x-ray or scan. Respiratory Physicians will also work in outpatient clinics and this is a highly important part of their work. There are two types of clinics: general respiratory clinics and specialist clinics. Patients with asthma and conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are treated in General Clinics whilst Specialist Clinics or Units will specialise in one area, such as sleep-related problems, cystic fibrosis, chronic coughs, cancer and most topical at current, COVID. Finally, Respiratory Physicians may also work in lung function laboratories within hospitals, enabling the interpretation of complex lung function testing. Here, you should expect tgo be working alongside Lung Oncologists and Histopathologists.   Can I sub specialize? Whilst there are a number of highly recognized specialty interests associated with Respiratory Medicine, it is important to note that there are no formally recognised sub specialties. Common interests may include, but are not limited to: Adult Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Hypertension Lung Transplantation Domiciliary non-invasive ventilation Occupational and Environmental Lung Disease   Relocating to the UK If you are an international Respiratory Doctor with MRCP who would like to relocate to the UK, email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your journey to relocate to the UK. Are you a member of our Facebook group? When you join IMG Advisor, you join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of blogs and vlogs to the group each day. We will also be on hand to answer all of your relocation queries. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 60 videos covering everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS. Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go with IMG Advisor the Podcast! You can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this. Finally, we have just launched our new Instagram, so if you are a member, feel free to follow us to view our posts and IGTV: @bdiresourcing   References RCP London. 2020. Specialty Career Profile: Respiratory Medicine. [online] Available at: <https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/education-practice/interview/specialty-career-profile-respiratory-medicine> [Accessed 9 September 2020]. BMJ 2010; 340 Respiratory medicine doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c1628 (Published 07 April 2010) Health Careers. 2020. Respiratory Medicine. [online] Available at: <https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/respiratory-medicine> [Accessed 9 September 2020].

Whilst not technically named as a City, Milton Keynes is a large town in Buckinghamshire that deserves recognition!  The town central location within the UK, just 50 miles North West of London, make it extremely accessible from many transport routes, both motorways, rail lines and airports. With an estimated population of 270,984, which continues to grow annually, Milton Keynes is a popular living destination for many! The Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a medium sized hospital that provides a full range of acute hospital services and an increasing number of specialist service to the growing population of Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas. With around 550 beds and employing more than 4,000 staff, the hospital sees and treats appropriately 400,000 patients each year comprising of both outpatient and emergency attendances. Overall the Hospital has a ‘Good’ CQC Rating. Facts About Milton Keynes Milton Keynes Borough covers 119 square miles. No-one in Milton Keynes is ever more than half a mile from a park. More than 22 million trees have been planted in Milton Keynes MK has over 5,000 acres of parkland, rivers, lakes and woodland. The Point was the first multiplex cinema in Britain and opened in 1985. There are 15 lakes and 11 miles of canals in and around the town. There are five international airports within 90 minutes drive of Milton Keynes. The MK Dons Football Club is based in the city at stadium MK which is a 30,000 all seater stadium, over 1,000,000 people have watched football there since it was built in 2007. Milton Keynes has over 200 works of public art. The Open University was the world’s first degree-awarding distance learning institution. The aqueduct across Grafton Street, built in 1991, was the first built in Britain for 50 years. 7.5 million people live within a one hour drive of Milton Keynes.   Cost of Living in Milton Keynes Cost of Renting Accommodation per month One-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre £869.22 One-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre £740.62 Three-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre £1313.07 Three-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre £1109.38   Transportation 1ltr Petrol £1.29 One-Way Public Transport Ticket £2.50 Monthly Public Transport Ticket £60.00 1km Taxi Journey £1.00   Entertainment Meal out for two in a local pub £30.00 Meal out for two in a mid-range restaurant, 3 courses £50.00 Cinema tickets for two people £24.00 One-month gym membership £25.63 Tennis court rental for 1 hour on the weekend £21.68 Beer 0.5ltr bottle £3.25 Coke/Pepsi 0.33ltr bottle £1.47 Cappuccino £2.64   Time it Takes to Travel by Train from Milton Keynes to Cities in the UK: City Time it Takes to Travel London 51 Minutes Bristol 3 Hours 9 Minutes Cardiff 3 Hours 50 Minutes Manchester 1 Hours 54 Minutes Newcastle 5 Hours 47 Minutes Birmingham 1 Hour 15 Minutes Liverpool 2 Hours 50 Minutes Edinburgh 5 Hours 9 Minutes   Education in Milton Keynes: According to the information available on the government website, Milton Keynes has access to 107 Primary Schools and a further 22 Secondary Schools. To find out more information about term dates, applications, standards, curriculum and general education, visit the Milton Keynes Council website here. Milton Keynes is also home to the Open University, a leading university for flexible, innovative teaching and world-leading research in the UK and in 157 countries worldwide. From Arts to Engineering to Music and Statistics, the University offers hundreds of multidisciplinary courses and has over 50,000 students. Things to do in Milton Keynes: Stadium MK Stadium MK is a 30,530 seat stadium in Milton Keynes, and home to MK Dons Football club. The stadium is also home to the DoubleTree by Hilton, a 3,420m2 indoor arena, Marshall Arena, Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill and Dons Sport & Education Trust. The largest indoor space in the area, Marshall Arena hosts car launches, televised darts tournaments, tech exhibitions, concerts, and bespoke parties. The arena space is spread across three floors, including balconies, green rooms, and bars. SnoZone Snozone are the UK’s leading snow centres for indoor skiing and snowboarding on real snow. Snozone Milton Keynes is an outstanding venue for skiing and snowboarding indoors on real snow slopes giving visitors an authentic slope experience. The centre offers private and group lessons for everyone from 3 years upwards and has lots of options to ski, snowboard and even sledge.   Bletchley Park Bletchley Park, home of the WW2 Codebreakers, was once Britain's best kept secret and is now a vibrant heritage attraction open daily for visitors to learn how the Codebreakers' breath-taking achievements helped shorten WW2 by up to two years. Bletchley Park is open to the public and offers Exhibitions that go into detail on topics like the star mathematician Alan Turing, the enigma machines, Lorenz Cipher and Japanese Codes. You can also step into the offices of Alan Turing and another codebreaker Alastair Denniston and see the restored working Bombe computer used by these cryptologists.   Willen Lakeside Park In the eastern part of town is a massive open space formed around a “balancing lake” on the River Ouzel, which was built to capture floodwater to prevent damage downstream. The southern portion of the lake is a recreation area. Wake MK is also found here, providing lessons in wakeboarding, kitesurfing, kneeboarding and waterskiing. There’s also a “splash ‘n’ play” park for youngsters, with more than 60 water features like a water tunnel, water cannons and special water play area for toddlers. Another attraction on the south shore is the Treetop Extreme high ropes course. The north lake is more sedate as a sanctuary for migrating aquatic birds.   Relocation to Milton Keynes: If you’re an international doctor looking to relocate to Milton Keynes, or another location in the UK, please email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your journey to relocate to the UK. Are you a member of our Facebook group? When you join IMG Advisor, you join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of vlogs and blogs to the group every day. We will also be on hand to answer all of your relocation queries. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 60 videos on everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS! Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go to IMG Advisor the Podcast. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this.   References: Milton Keynes University Hospital. 2020. About Us - Milton Keynes University Hospital. [online] Available at: <https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/about-us> [Accessed 17 August 2020]. Destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk. 2020. 101 Facts About MK. [online] Available at: <http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/About-us/101-Facts-about-MK> [Accessed 17 August 2020]. Living, C., Kingdom, U. and Keynes, M., 2020. Cost Of Living In Milton Keynes. [online] Numbeo.com. Available at: <https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Milton-Keynes> [Accessed 17 August 2020]. Find and compare schools in England. 2020. All Schools And Colleges In Milton Keynes - GOV.UK - Find And Compare Schools In England. [online] Available at: <https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=default&table=schools&region=826&la-name=milton-keynes&geographic=la&for=primary> [Accessed 17 August 2020]. The Open University. 2020. The Open University | Courses And Qualifications. [online] Available at: <http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/> [Accessed 17 August 2020]. Stadiummk.com. 2020. About Marshall Arena. [online] Available at: <https://www.stadiummk.com/about/marshall-arena/> [Accessed 18 August 2020]. Guides, T., Kingdom, U. and 15 Best Things to Do in Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire, E., 2020. 15 Best Things To Do In Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire, England) - The Crazy Tourist. [online] The Crazy Tourist. Available at: <https://www.thecrazytourist.com/15-best-things-to-do-in-milton-keynes-buckinghamshire-england/> [Accessed 18 August 2020].

The Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) is postgraduate exam qualification awarded by The Royal College of Radiologists, a professional body responsible for the speciality of clinical oncology and clinical radiology throughout the UK. The FRCR Exam is the main way in which UK radiology trainees demonstrate objectively that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to work as an independent radiologist in the UK. The postgraduate qualification is also GMC approved – thus evidencing that you have the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to apply for full registration with a licence to practise. What components are there to the FRCR? First FRCR Examination Anatomy and Physics   Final FRCR Examination Part A Part B -Rapid Reporting -Reporting Session -Oral Exam Please note that each exam must be passed sequentially in order to progress to the next stage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First FRCR Examination Structure The First FRCR examination comprises of two modules: Anatomy and Physics. Anatomy is examined by an image viewing session delivered on individual workstations and Physics by a multiple-choice written question (MCQ) paper. Both modules will be held during a two-day examination period three times each year (September, March, June); and both modules will be held on separate days. For further details on dates click here. The cost of this exam is £256 for a member and £301 for a non-member – this price is for each module. So will be double the price if you book both Anatomy and Physics. What will I be tested on? The First FRCR Examination will assess your knowledge of those physical, cellular and molecular principles that underpin the generation of radiological studies. The purpose of this examination is to assess whether those undertaking speciality training in clinical radiology have an appropriate knowledge of the scientific principles that underpin all radiological imaging, including: Matter and Radiation Radiography and Fluoroscopy Radionuclide Imaging Radiation Safety Computed tomography (CT) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ultrasound imaging The syllabus for this examination is described in the curriculum. The exam ensures that successful candidates understand the underlying principles that underpin the generation of images, such that they can: Select the most appropriate imaging technique for a clinical scenario from the intrinsic properties of the method of image generation. Understand the risk, safety and quality consideration that are inherent in image generation to allow an informed choice of the appropriate modality and any alteration in technique.   Anatomy The anatomy module covers radiological anatomy across all body systems and imaging modalities. The exam will consist of a computer-based image viewing session of one-hundred images. Most of the questions will be “What structure does the arrow point to?” or “What normal anatomical variant is demonstrated?” The exam will last for ninety minutes and each examination paper aims to cover the curriculum and individual modalities give roughly equal weight as follows: 1/3 cross-sectional 1/3 plain radiographs 1/3 contrast studies Similarly, different body parts are given roughly equal weight as follows: ¼ head, neck and spine ¼ chest and cardiovascular ¼ abdomen and pelvis ¼ musculoskeletal There will also be Paediatric images and normal variants, but foetal imaging and neonatal cranial ultrasound will not be in the exam. The anatomy exam takes place at the Royal College of Radiology in London. Overseas candidates can elect to sit the exam in Hong Kong or Singapore. Depending on the number of applications that the College receives, candidates are assigned to an examination session over a period of one to three days immediately following the physics exam. Physics The physics exam can be taken at a number of centres: typically, Birmingham, London, Manchester, Dublin, Hong Kong and Singapore. When making your exam application you will be asked to provide your first and second choice test centre. This exam will last for two-hours and is a multiple choice written question paper. You will have 120 minutes to answer 40 questions. Each question will present you with a topic, for example, Doppler ultrasound, and then follow with five statements that must be marked either true or false. The pass mark will vary for each exam sitting, however, typically it is usually somewhere in the region of 70-75%. This module covers UK ionising radiation legislation, patient safety and the physical principles that underpin diagnostic medical imaging. It has been reported that the physics paper can be very tricky if you did not learn physics at school or university. However, we advise you to keep reading and learning until you have a good understanding of the key concepts it will become easier from there. Remember to use varied revision resources from books, e-learning sessions to revising the topics with colleagues. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Final FRCR Examination Part A The Final FRCR Part A exam is a single-best answer paper and you will be tested on all aspects of clinical radiology and the basic sciences of physics, anatomy and techniques, against the Speciality Training Curriculum for Clinical Radiology. The examination will be held in June and December each year and examination dates can be found here and the exam fee is £343 for a member and £404 for a non-member.             Entry Requirements Candidates must have passed the First FRCR examination, comprising of the Anatomy and Physics modules. Furthermore, to take FRCR Final Part A you must have acquired 24 months in a formal clinical radiology training post by the month which you take your exam.             Exam Format This exam consists of two papers which will be sat on the same day with a break in between. Each paper will contain 120 single-best-answer questions (240 questions in total) and each paper lasts three-hours. Please note that both papers make up one exam and there is no concept of passing one paper. You will be examined on all aspects of clinical radiology and this exam must be passed before you can attempt the FRCR Final Part B Exam. The Exam will cover the following topics: Cardiothoracic and Vascular Musculoskeletal and Trauma Gastro-intestinal Genito-urinary, Adrenal, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Breast Central Nervous and Head & Neck Both papers will be entirely mixed and contain questions from all subspecialties. Helpfully, the results of the exam are broken into subspecialty so on receipt of your feedback you will know what your strengths and weaknesses are. The pass rate for the exam will be based on the overall percentage. Part B The Final FRCR Part B assessment will examine you on all aspects of clinical radiology against the Speciality Training Curriculum for Clinical Radiology. The Part B Exam will consist of a rapid reporting session (also known as rapids), reporting session (also known as long cases), and an oral examination (viva). All components are examined via an image viewing session and held during a single examination period twice a year. Click here to access how each component is marked and how the overall results are determined. The examination is held in April and October of each year and the exam fee is £474 for a member and £558 for a non-member. Please click here for further details on dates.             Entry Requirements Candidates who have passed the Final FRCR Part A examination, are permitted to enter the Part B examination once 34 months of clinical radiology training have been completed. Rapid Reporting (Rapids) In this part of your exam, you will receive thirty plain radiographs and you will have to classify each graph in thirty-five minutes. This element of the exam will truly test you because you are not given much time to answer the questions. Passing this element will require you to practise a vast amount and develop a systematic approach to radiograph interpretation. The idea is that the exam will reflect a normal day-to-day A&E or GP reporting session. The cases will be a mixture of facial, abdominal, chest, spine and limb radiographs. It has been reported that typically half of the cases are normal and half the cases are abnormal, however, this ratio will vary. There is one mark per image, and so a maximum of thirty marks is available.             Reporting Session (Long Cases) In this part of the exam, you will be presented with six cases and have sixty-minutes to answer them. Each case may comprise of one or more imaging modalities, such as an ultrasound image, a CT scan and a plain radiograph. You will be given a brief history and relevant clinical data to help and guide you (as you would in day-to-day practise) and you must report on all six cases. To answer you will need to type your report in the spaces provided on the screen and they are divided into the following sections to aid you to communicate your report clearly. Observations:  Record observations from all the imaging studies available, including relevant positive and negative findings. Interpretation:  State interpretations of the observed findings; e.g. whether the mass or process is benign, malignant or infective, giving your reasons. Principal diagnosis:  The single diagnosis based on the interpretations above.  If a single diagnosis is not possible, give the most likely differential diagnosis here. Differential diagnosis:   For some questions, this will be left blank, however, if a single diagnosis is not possible then differentials other than the most likely differential diagnosis should be included here.  These should be few and brief and you must indicate why these are less likely than the main or principal diagnosis above. Further management:  Include any further investigations or future management here. Oral Examination (Viva) This element of the exam consists of two thirty-minute oral examinations, so the total exam time will be one hour. There will be two examiners who will each examine you. For the first fifteen minutes examiner A will ask you questions regarding radiographs, and then after those fifteen minutes are up examiner B will ask you questions while examiner A marks, and so on. You will, therefore, be assessed by four independent judgements on your performance. The total marks for the viva component are sixteen marks. The radiographs typically fall into four groups: Classic Often people do not have a problem diagnosis this radiograph e.g. peri-lunate dislocation. Tie it Together Multiple findings on one or more modality. You will need to put all the findings together to come up with a diagnosis. Observation The abnormality is subtle and may be difficult to spot. One example is an ‘edge of the radiograph’ finding such as a calcified hydatid cyst in the liver on a chest radiograph. Gross abnormality The abnormality is obvious but the location may be atypical.   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tips and Tricks to Passing your FRCR Exams Practice papers – Doing practice papers prior to your real exam will be a great way to learn the exam topics whilst improving your exam technique. There are many good courses, books and online resources which offer free mock FRCR Exam papers. Be mindful with the spelling of similar sounding structures – The FRCR Exam is not a spelling test and the examiners often look over minor spelling mistakes, however, it is important to get right similar sounding names. One example includes ilium/ileum. Take care or you could miss out on a mark. Write an answer to every question – There is no negative marking so if you are not sure of an answer we advise you to make your best guess. When you are struggling with a question, write something and move on because if you have enough time at the end you can come back to it. Timing is fundamental – As with all the exams, but most specifically the FRCR Final Examinations Part B, it is essential you manage it. It is easy to write a correct and successful report after looking at the radiographs, however, it is very difficult to do so when you have to spend an average of ten minutes on each case. You will not have time to check your answers so we advise for you to be very strict with time management, and recommend that you spend no more than 7-8 minutes on each case to allow time for the more difficult cases that require a longer analysis. Avoid Acronyms and Abbreviations – Reports reveal that many clinical errors have arisen from the use of acronyms and just because an abbreviation is common in your current hospital does not mean it is used in other hospitals or other international healthcare systems.   Relocation: If you’re an international Radiologist who has completed your FRCR please email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS Histopathology post and on your journey to relocate to the UK. Are you a member of our Facebook group? When you join IMG Advisor, you join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of vlogs and blogs to the group every day. We will also be on hand to answer all of your relocation queries. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 60 videos on everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS! Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go to IMG Advisor the Podcast. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this.   References Rcr.ac.uk. (2018). First FRCR Examination | The Royal College of Radiologists. [online] Available at: https://www.rcr.ac.uk/clinical-radiology/examinations/first-frcr-examination-0 [Accessed 21 May 2018]. Rcr.ac.uk. (2018). Final FRCR Part B Examination | The Royal College of Radiologists. [online] Available at: https://www.rcr.ac.uk/clinical-radiology/examinations/final-frcr-part-b-examination-0 [Accessed 21 May 2018] Clare, C. (2018) Exams. [online] Radiology Café. Available at: https://www.radiologycafe.com/radiology-trainees/exams [Accessed 21 May 2018].        

Whilst not technically a City, Maidstone is the County town and situated at the heart of Kent, encompassing town life, charming villages and beautiful countryside, it remains a popular relocation destination for many. Situated around 40 miles outside of London, just under an hours train journey away, the town has an estimated population of 174,000, which continues to grow annually. The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large acute hospital Trust in the south east of England. The Trust provides a full range of general hospital services, and some areas of specialist complex care to around 560,000 people living in the south of West Kent and the north of East Sussex. The Trust’s core catchment areas are Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and their surrounding boroughs, and it operates from two main clinical sites: Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. The Trust employs a team of over 5000 full and part-time staff. In addition, the Trust provides specialist cancer services to around 1.8 million people across Kent, Hastings and Rother, via the Kent Oncology Centre, which is sited at Maidstone Hospital, and at Kent and Canterbury Hospital in Canterbury. Facts About Maidstone Maidstone's coat of arms depicts a lion and one of the town's most famous residents, Iggy the Iguanadon. The skeleton of Iggy was discovered in a quarry in the town in 1834 - A cast of the 125-million-year-old herbivore can be seen in Maidstone Museum! Years ago, elephants used to roam the grounds of Maidstones Golf Course - then Maidstone Zoo, a popular attraction for 25 years until it closed in 1959. Locals could hear the lions roaring from their homes   Cost of Living in Maidstone Cost of Renting Accommodation per month One-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre £748.00 One-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre £675.00 Three-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre £1075.00 Three-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre £925.00   Transportation 1ltr Petrol £1.29 One-Way Public Transport Ticket £2.75 Monthly Public Transport Ticket £75.01 1km Taxi Journey £1.42   Entertainment Meal out for two in a local pub £24.00 Meal out for two in a mid-range restaurant, 3 courses £48.08 Cinema tickets for two people £19.60 One-month gym membership £38.66 Tennis court rental for 1 hour on the weekend £10.79 Beer 0.5ltr bottle £3.00 Coke/Pepsi 0.33ltr bottle £1.05 Cappuccino £2.75   Time it Takes to Travel by Train from Maidstone to Cities in the UK: City Time it Takes to Travel London 57 Minutes Bristol 3 Hours 33 Minutes Cardiff 3 Hours 50 Minutes Manchester 4 Hours 1 Minutes Newcastle 4 Hours 32 Minutes Birmingham 3 Hour 12 Minutes Liverpool 4 Hours 50 Minutes Edinburgh 12 Hours 11 Minutes   Education in Maidstone: According to the information available on the government website, Maidstone and the Weald is home to 38 Primary Schools and a further 17 Secondary Schools – not including the wider schools available within the surrounding areas. To find out more information about term dates, applications, standards, curriculum and general education, visit the Kent County Council website here. Things to do in Maidstone: Fremlin Walk Shopping Fremlin Walk is an open air shopping centre is found in the heart of Maidstone and is considered the shopping and retail centre of the region. The development brings together around 50 of the most popular and stylish shops as well as restaurants and an 800 space car park. Mote Park Mote Park is a huge green space in the heart of Maidstone and is extremely popular with both visitors and locals alike. In 2015, it placed third in the People’s Choice for their Favourite Green Flag Park. Covering over 450 acres, it includes natural features such as grassland, woodland, rivers and a 30 acre lake. The park is great for cycling and walking, as well as boasting it’s own BMX Track, children’s play area and Segway hire shop. Mote Park plays host to a variety of events throughout the year. These include large music festivals, ticketed events, outdoor theatre and charity fun runs. Maidstone Museum & Bentliff Art Gallery Maidstone Museum is home to a vast collection of fine art and historical artefacts, with over 600,000 items of international importance – including a 700-year-old Egyptian mummy called Ta-Kush, who lies in state within the excellent Ancient Lives exhibition! There are also outstanding oil paintings, fine items from the Japanese Edo period, an inspiring costume gallery, and the story behind the discovery of Maidstone's millennia-old iguanodon; the town's world-famous dinosaur find. Seasonally changing exhibitions ensure that there is always something new to explore. Cobtree Manor Park Golf Course There’s so much on offer at this 18-hole golf course, from music events to family fun days and dementia-friendly activities, there’s also a wellbeing room with exercise classes and Mum & Baby Yoga. Enjoy a walk in Cobtree Manor Park or visit the open-air museum. Dog walkers, wildlife watchers, cyclists and bikers are all welcome to enjoy the grounds.   Relocation to Maidstone: If you’re an international doctor looking to relocate to Maidstone, or another location in the UK, please email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your journey to relocate to the UK. Are you a member of our Facebook group? When you join IMG Advisor, you join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of vlogs and blogs to the group every day. We will also be on hand to answer all of your relocation queries. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 60 videos on everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS! Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go to IMG Advisor the Podcast. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this.   References: Living, C. and Kingdom, U., 2020. Cost Of Living In Maidstone. [online] Numbeo.com. Available at: [Accessed 1 September 2020]. Visitmaidstone.com. 2020. Mote Park - Parkland / Woodland Garden In Maidstone, Maidstone - Visit Maidstone. [online] Available at: [Accessed 1 September 2020]. Kent Online. 2020. Ten Fascinating Historical Facts About Maidstone. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 September 2020]. Maidstone Museum. 2020. Maidstone Museums | Kent Museum. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 September 2020]. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. 2020. About Us - Maidstone And Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 September 2020]. Find and compare schools in England. 2020. All Schools And Colleges In Maidstone And The Weald - GOV.UK - Find And Compare Schools In England. [online] Available at: [Accessed 2 September 2020].

General Medicine is the largest field of medicine in terms of the number of different pathways and individual specialisms.  This Blog Article aims to provide specific insight into Gastroenterology and what to expect when working as a Gastroenterologist within the NHS. As an international recruitment company, BDI Resourcing recommend that aspiring Gastroenterologists, wanting to work in the NHS, take the MRCP route to their GMC Registration.   What should I expect? Gastroenterologists within the NHS are expected to develop and run endoscopy services for diagnostic, therapeutic and screening endoscopy.  Commonly, Gastroenterologists will divide their time between running specialist gastrointestinal and liver clinics, carrying out endoscopies, attending multidisciplinary meetings, conducting ward rounds, attending to administration and admitting new patients. The number of patients seen in a day varies. In outpatients, you could see up to eight new patients or 12 follow ups per four hour clinic or a mixture of new and follow up patients. A specialist doing two endoscopy lists in a day could see about 12 to 24 patients; but some cases are more complex and involve longer procedures such as the removal of polyps or gall stones. Gastroenterologists within the NHS will participate in on call rotas. Being on-call can be demanding as you are likely to be called in for procedures such as emergency endoscopy. Most gastroenterologists are also part of the acute general medical on-call, which means they manage acute gastro and non-gastro admissions. Additionally, it is important to note that when working as a Gastroenterologist you should expect to work alongside a variety of other NHS staff including specialist nurses, surgeons, diagnostic and interventional radiologists, pathologists, oncologists, clinical research teams and A&E Doctors. Of course, whilst it is impossible to predict the daily procedures and interventions you may be carrying out on a day to day basis within the NHS, you will commonly be carrying out: diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy small bowel endoscopy endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) – an endoscopic technique mainly used to diagnose and treat bile duct and pancreatic duct conditions endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) intestinal and liver biopsy paracentesis (puncture of the wall of a cavity using a hollow needle) insertion of parenteral nutrition line (intravenous feeding lines) planning and aftercare of patients undergoing liver transplant   Can I sub specialize? Whilst there are a number of different specialty interests associated with Gastroenterology, it is important to note that Hepatology is the only GMC approved subspecialty of Gastroenterology. This means that when (and if) applying for specialist registration, Hepatology is the single choice for a listed sub specialty. In order to receive this sub-specialty certificate in hepatology, a Doctor must spend a total of two years training in liver disease having previously enrolled in the gastroenterology training programme. As previously mentioned, whilst Hepatology is the only approved sub specialty certification, Doctors may have a specific sub specialty interest. These may include but are not limited to: hepatology (diseases of the liver) pancreaticobiliary diseases of the pancreas and biliary system), inflammatory bowel disease functional bowel disease tropical diseases gastrointestinal cancer and its prevention endoscopic surveillance upper GI disease (diseases of the oespahagus and stomach) small bowel disease pancreatic disease transplantation medico legal issues in medicine clinical pharmacology inherited cancer syndromes clinical nutrition   Relocating to the UK If you are an international Gastroenterologist with MRCP who would like to relocate to the UK, email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your journey to relocate to the UK. Are you a member of our Facebook group? When you join IMG Advisor, you join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of blogs and vlogs to the group each day. We will also be on hand to answer all of your relocation queries. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 60 videos covering everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS. Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go with IMG Advisor the Podcast! You can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this. Finally, we have just launched our new Instagram, so if you are a member, feel free to follow us to view our posts and IGTV: @bdiresourcing   References Health Careers. 2020. Working Life (Gastroenterology). [online] Available at: <https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/gastroenterology/working-life> [Accessed 26 August 2020]. Gmc-uk.org. 2020. Hepatology Curriculum. [online] Available at: <https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/standards-guidance-and-curricula/curricula/hepatology-curriculum> [Accessed 26 August 2020]. Health Careers. 2020. Gastroenterology. [online] Available at: <https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/medicine/gastroenterology> [Accessed 26 August 2020].

  Doctors working in intensive care medicine (ICM), commonly referred to as ‘Intensivists’, manage critically ill patients with, at risk of, or recovering from, potentially life-threatening failure of any of the body’s organ systems. As an international recruitment company, BDI Resourcing recommend that aspiring Intensivists, wanting to work in the NHS, take the EDIC route to their GMC Registration. – however if moving across from a Medicine background, MRCP is also accepted by many NHS Trusts.   What should I expect? The role of ICM doctors is continuously changing under the impact of other changes in the system, such as the centralisation of specialist surgery, trauma, and emergency care. A day as an Intensivist within the NHS is busy, challenging and rewarding. Typically it might start with a thorough handover of information about the patients from the ‘out-going’ team.  The rest of the day will be filled with the review and development of individual treatment plans, and multidisciplinary ward rounds of all patients. It is important to note that a large part of ICM involves effective communication with colleagues, patients, other specialists and relatives. Working as an Intensive Care Specialist in the NHS, you will typically have responsibility for between 8 and 25 patients at a time. As an Intensive Care Doctor you will be commonly treating the effects of potentially lethal poisons, pneumonia, severe asthma, liver and renal failure, heart failure, respiratory failure, maternal complications, major surgery recovery and trauma including head injuries. With this in mind, your post will include assessment, monitoring and review of patients with or at risk of developing critical illness. Common procedures and interventions that you will be responsible for will include but are not limited to: Use of inotropes and vasopressors Mechanical ventilation Endotracheal intubation Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy Measurement of cardiac output Haemodialysis and Haemofiltration Transferring critically ill patients for specialist investigations and interventions   Can I specialize? When training or working in Intensive Care Medicine within the NHS you will have the opportunity to develop a special skill or interest. These specific interests include but are not limited to: Cardiac intensive care medicine Echocardiography Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) Education Home ventilation Neuro intensive care medicine Paediatric intensive care medicine Pre-hospital emergency medicine (PHEM) Quality improvement in healthcare Transfer medicine   Where will I be working? Staff can be based in intensive care units, specialty units (for neonatal, paediatric, cardiothoracic and neurological patients) and high dependency units. Consultants may also be involved in running ICM follow up clinics for patients discharged from hospital who are recovering from their stay on critical care. Some intensivists are ‘dual trained’ in ICM along with one of ICM’s partner specialties. Common partner specialties include anaesthesia, acute internal medicine, emergency medicine, renal medicine and respiratory medicine. Those consultants who are ‘dual trainees’ often work in both specialties, organized by the individual Trust   Relocating to the UK If you are an international Doctor interested in working in Intensive Care who would like to relocate to the UK , email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your relocation journey to the UK. Are you a member of our Facebook group? When you join IMG Advisor, you join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of blogs and vlogs to the group each day. We will also be on hand to answer all of your relocation queries. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 60 videos covering everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS. Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go with IMG Advisor the Podcast! You can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this. Finally, we have just launched our new Instagram, so if you are a member, feel free to follow us to view our posts and IGTV: @bdiresourcing   References Health Careers. 2020. Intensive Care Medicine. [online] Available at: <https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/intensive-care-medicine> [Accessed 5 August 2020]. Health Careers. 2020. Working Life (ICM). [online] Available at: <https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/roles-doctors/intensive-care-medicine/working-life> [Accessed 5 August 2020]. Gmc-uk.org. 2020. Intensive Care Medicine Curriculum. [online] Available at: <https://www.gmc-uk.org/education/standards-guidance-and-curricula/curricula/intensive-care-medicine-curriculum> [Accessed 5 August 2020].

The Cathedral City of Hereford straddles the banks of the River Wye and lies at the center of Herefordshire County, west-central England. With a population of 55,700 people, the City of Hereford - Herefordshire's county town is the largest settlement in the county, lying 23 miles north-west of the City of Gloucester. The Wye Valley NHS Trust is the provider of healthcare services at Hereford County Hospital, which is based in the city of Hereford, along with a number of community services for Herefordshire and its borders. The Trusts workforce of around 3000 provides a range of specialist and generalist functions. With an annual turnover of around £180 million, serving a population of 180,000, the Trust is one of the smallest rural District General Hospitals in England. Facts About Hereford Hereford’s Bulmer’s factory is the largest cider making factory in the world! It contains the world’s largest vat too – stainless steel tanks installed in 1975 hold 15 million gallons of cider! Hereford is home to one of only four 1217 Magna Carta to survive, which can sometimes be seen on display at the cathedral alongside the famous Mappa Mundi Ellie Goulding, famous English Singer and Songwriter, was born in Hereford Hereford featured in one of the longest running projects on the TV programme ‘Grand Designs’, whereby a couple handcrafted a 5 bedroom house on their smallholding in the countryside   Cost of Living in Hereford Cost of Renting Accommodation per month One-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre £600.00 One-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre £450.00 Three-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre £850.00 Three-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre £700.00   Transportation 1ltr Petrol £1.26 One-Way Public Transport Ticket £2.20 Monthly Public Transport Ticket £67.17 1km Taxi Journey £0.93   Entertainment Meal out for two in a local pub £24.00 Meal out for two in a mid-range restaurant, 3 courses £45.00 Cinema tickets for two people £17.80 One-month gym membership £41.67 Tennis court rental for 1 hour on the weekend £7.00 Beer 0.5ltr bottle £3.08 Coke/Pepsi 0.33ltr bottle £1.83 Cappuccino £3.15   Time it Takes to Travel by Train from Hereford to Cities in the UK: City Time it Takes to Travel London 3 Hours 7 Minutes Bristol 2 Hours 27 Minutes Cardiff 1 Hours 11 Minutes Manchester 2 Hours 20 Minutes Newcastle 7 Hours 37 Minutes Birmingham 1 Hour 34 Minutes Liverpool 3 Hours 52 Minutes Edinburgh 8 Hours 23 Minutes   Education in Hereford: According to the information available on the government website, Hereford is home to 89 Primary Schools and a further 28 Secondary Schools. To find out more information about term dates, applications, standards, curriculum and general education, visit the Herefordshire County Council website here. Things to do in Hereford: Old Market - Shopping With independent outlets sitting alongside well-known high street names, there is shopping for all in the traffic-free city centre. Old Market is an open-air retail and leisure Local Centre in the heart of Hereford and is the leading destination for shopping and eating out. The complex consists of national & international retailers, casual chain restaurants & a cinema.   The Weir Garden Bordered by the River Wye, The historical Weir sits within the countryside and for centuries, has been used as a pleasure ground for fishing, boating and swimming. It is managed in a natural way to create a varied habitat for wildlife. Visit the garden any time of year to find out why this location has appealed to so many and enjoy exploring this peaceful site. The Mappa Mundi and Chained Library Exhibition The Mappa Mundi and Chained Library Exhibition at Hereford Cathedral is open all year round and is famous for housing both the medieval map of the world and the chained library. The world famous Mappa Mundi is the largest surviving medieval map of the world and a unique international treasure. It records how the scholars interpreted the world over 700 years ago and contains more than a thousand drawings and inscriptions.   The Courtyard Theatre and Arts Centre The courtyard centre for the Arts is a stunning modern venue for all the performing arts, including professional productions and local community companies: there is an art gallery and lively restaurant. The Centre has a 400-seat main house, a 120-seat studio theatre, rehearsal rooms, a gallery and meeting spaces. The majority of shows are from external touring companies, but the Courtyard does also produce some in house shows, like festive panto and youth theatre productions. There are regular comedy nights and films to watch.   Relocation to Hereford: If you’re an international doctor looking to relocate to Hereford, or another location in the UK, please email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your journey to relocate to the UK. Are you a member of our Facebook group? When you join IMG Advisor, you join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of vlogs and blogs to the group every day. We will also be on hand to answer all of your relocation queries. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 60 videos on everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS! Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go to IMG Advisor the Podcast. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this.   References: Wyenot.com. 2020. Wyenot.Com - The City Of Hereford. [online] Available at: <http://www.wyenot.com/hereford.htm> [Accessed 3 August 2020]. Visitherefordshire.co.uk. 2020. Visit Herefordshire. [online] Available at: <https://www.visitherefordshire.co.uk/> [Accessed 3 August 2020]. Wyevalley.nhs.uk. 2020. About Wye Valley NHS Trust. [online] Available at: <https://www.wyevalley.nhs.uk/work-with-us/about-wye-valley-nhs-trust.aspx> [Accessed 3 August 2020]. Grand Designs. 2020. Herefordshire Part 2. [online] Available at: <https://www.granddesigns.tv/herefordshire-part-2/> [Accessed 3 August 2020]. Living, C. and Kingdom, U., 2020. Cost Of Living In Hereford. [online] Numbeo.com. Available at: <https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Hereford-United-Kingdom> [Accessed 3 August 2020].

As you may know, the MRCP PACES Examination was due to change in September 2020. However, due to the ongoing global COVID-19 situation, the introduction of the new PACES has been delayed by the Royal College of Physicians until 2021 – (specific date yet to be confirmed). This blog article aims to outline the aspects of the examination that will be changing, how to best prepare for the new examination and why these alterations are being implemented.   Why is the examination changing? The changes to PACES are the product of a 12 month review of the examination by MRCP(UK) to ensure that it remains fair, relevant and fit for purpose. The changes build on the current format but develop some elements to make them more realistic for examiners and trainees. It now better reflects the new Internal Medicine stage 1 curriculum, developed by the JRCPTB on behalf of the Federation.   What parts of the examination are changing? The PACES Examination will still test the same clinical skills, and there will be five stations. The table below outlines the three stations that are being removed from the PACES Examination and the reasons for their removal: Station 2 The History- taking station was considered to be artificial and not representative of modern practice Station 4 20 Minutes for a single communication and ethics encounter was felt to be rather long and the 5 minute examiner/candidate interaction added little value to the overall assessment Station 5 Testing all seven skills in an integrated manner was very realistic but applied large amounts of pressure in 10 minutes To replace the above stations, the following three aspects will be being introduced: Communication Two 10-minute communication encounters. These will not include a question and answer section with the examiners, but instead the encounter will be judged on observation alone. Consultations Two 20-minute clinical consultations will assess candidates across all seven skills in a realistic and integrated manner. Candidates will have 15 minutes to take a structured history, examine the patient, explain the likely diagnosis and management and address any qu3stions or concerns raised. There will then be a 5 minute question and answer section with the examiners. Encounter Sequencing across the Carousel The new carousel will alter the sequencing of the encounters through the carousel. Some stations will include physical examination and communication encounters. This will ensure that examiners at each station contribute more judgements in each of the skills for each candidate, improving the reliability of the exam.   How do I best prepare? The Royal College of Physicians have stated they will be providing “a comprehensive range of resources for candidates and examiners to ensure that they are prepared” for this new PACES format and structure. These will include informative videos of the new encounters, an examiner webinar, written guidance and attendance at events and training days. Look out for these on the MRCP(UK) website, Facebook and Twitter, as well as their newsletters and emails in the coming months. We would advise all candidates that will be sitting PACES under the new format in 2021, to register for any preparation courses that are run by the three Colleges that make up the Federation of Royal Colleges: RCP Edinburgh, RCPS Glasgow and RCP London.   References Mrcpuk.org. 2020. PACES 2020 | MRCPUK. [online] Available at: <https://www.mrcpuk.org/PACES2020#:~:text=As%20a%20consequence%20of%20the,3%20diet%20in%20September%202020.> [Accessed 28 July 2020]. Rcpe.ac.uk. 2020. Preparing For PACES Exams | Royal College Of Physicians Of Edinburgh. [online] Available at: <http://www.rcpe.ac.uk/careers-training/preparing-paces-exams> [Accessed 28 July 2020]. Rcpe.ac.uk. 2020. Get Ready For PACES 2020 | Royal College Of Physicians Of Edinburgh. [online] Available at: <http://www.rcpe.ac.uk/careers-training/get-ready-paces-2020> [Accessed 28 July 2020].

Whilst not technically named as a City, Middlesbrough is a large town that deserves recognition!  The town lies in the southernmost part of the North East of England and is positioned perfectly between coast and country. It’s approximately 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive north of Leeds, and 50 minutes’ drive south of Newcastle and has an estimated population of 138,400. The South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest hospital trust in the Tees Valley serving the people of Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Hambleton and Richmondshire and beyond. The Trust manages two main hospital sites, The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, employing around 9,000 members of staff. The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough is a designated major trauma centre and provides all its specialties from one site which is unique for a hospital of its size. The hospital has 1,024 beds, a 24-hour acute admissions unit and an emergency department (housing the major trauma unit). There is also an Institute of Learning Research and Innovation on site, embracing postgraduate medical education, undergraduate teaching centre, nurse training school, the school of radiography and library facilities! Facts About Middlesbrough The James Cook University Hospital has received many accolades, among them that their cardiac team is rated as being one of the top three in the world. Marton, which is now part of Middlesbrough, was the birthplace of Captain James Cook, one of the greatest explorers the world has ever known. A marvel of Edwardian engineering, Middlesbrough's famous Transporter Bridge is a Grade II listed building, the only working one of its type in the world - and the only UK bridge licensed for bungee jumping! Middlesbrough has five Green Flag awards, the national excellence standard for parks and open spaces. Middlesbrough Football Club has the biggest football-based community initiative in the country supporting more than 43,000 local people each year The longest and fastest karting circuit in the UK is on the outskirts of Middlesbrough. Award-winning designer Kate Fearnley, based in Middlesborough, designs exclusive dresses for Girls Aloud, Katie Price, The Saturdays and the X Factor girls Alexandra and Diana. Among the many talented musicians from the town are Paul Rodgers, once of Free and now of Queen, and the hugely successful Chris Rea. Middlesbrough's Psyche store is a winner of the FHM Menswear Designer Retailer of the Year and the Drapers Best Store in the UK and Ireland.   Cost of Living in Middlesbrough Cost of Renting Accommodation per month One-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre £466.67 One-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre £430.00 Three-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre £1125.00 Three-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre £553.33   Transportation 1ltr Petrol £1.24 One-Way Public Transport Ticket £2.50 Monthly Public Transport Ticket £65.11 1km Taxi Journey £0.93   Entertainment Meal out for two in a local pub £16.94 Meal out for two in a mid-range restaurant, 3 courses £40.00 Cinema tickets for two people £18.00 One-month gym membership £26.00 Tennis court rental for 1 hour on the weekend £13.50 Beer 0.5ltr bottle £3.00 Coke/Pepsi 0.33ltr bottle £1.25 Cappuccino £2.14   Time it Takes to Travel by Train from Middlesbrough to Cities in the UK: City Time it Takes to Travel London 6 Hours 25 Minutes Bristol 6 Hours 55 Minutes Cardiff 7 Hours 7 Minutes Manchester 2 Hours 24 Minutes Newcastle 1 Hours 17 Minutes Birmingham 4 Hour 34 Minutes Liverpool 3 Hours 33 Minutes Edinburgh 2 Hours 52 Minutes   Education in Middlesbrough: According to the information available on the government website, Middlesbrough is home to 47 Primary Schools and a further 12 Secondary Schools. To find out more information about term dates, applications, standards, curriculum and general education, visit the Middlesbrough Council website here. Middlesbrough is also home to Teesside University, an educational institution with 30,000 students, offering post graduate and undergraduate courses across a variety of sectors – whether it be Law, Art, Computing, Languages, Business or Health. Things to do in Middlesbrough: Shopping – Psyche Centre Consisting of a 40,000 square foot designer department store, three boutiques and an international website, Psyche is a Middlesbrough fashion institution which is internationally recognised, and 2018 winner of the Draper’s Independent Awards. It houses over 200 of the most sought after brands including Moncler, Paul Smith, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Hugo Boss. For over 36 years Psyche has carved out a reputation based on cutting edge design and was voted UK Menswear Independent Retailer of the Year at the Drapers Awards 2018.   Captain Cook Birthplace Museum Situated in Stewart Park, and attracting visitors from across the globe, the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum is brimming with history and fascinating insights into one of the world’s most famous explorers. Captain Cook was one of the first European’s to successfully circumnavigate around Australia, New Zealand and many other islands in Australasia. His life and explorations are celebrated in this interactive museum, perfect for a day out.   Middlesbrough Sports Village You can enjoy a huge range of different sports and activities at Middlesbrough Sports Village. There’s a state-of-the-art gym, a full programme of group fitness classes, indoor badminton sessions and a soft play area for kids. Outside, the Village boasts a full range of athletics facilities, including an eight-lane 400m track, a 10-lane 100m track, as well as four long jump pits. There’s also high jump, hammer throwing, javelin and pole vaulting facilities. The latest addition to the facility is a £1.6m, 250m velodrome, alongside five all-weather outdoor pitches and a skate park for BMX bikes, scooters and inline skaters.   Institute of Modern Art Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art offers a fascinating free day out for the family, with changing exhibitions, collection displays, learning activities, projects, and community-focused initiatives that involve many artists and publics. These programmes promote creativity for everyone in ordinary life, through education, debate and making.   Relocation to Middlesbrough: If you’re an international doctor looking to relocate to Middlesbrough, or another location in the UK, please email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your journey to relocate to the UK. Are you a member of our Facebook group? When you join IMG Advisor, you join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of vlogs and blogs to the group every day. We will also be on hand to answer all of your relocation queries. Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 60 videos on everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS! Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go to IMG Advisor the Podcast. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this.   References: Love Middlesbrough. 2020. Home - Love Middlesbrough. [online] Available at: <https://www.lovemiddlesbrough.com/> [Accessed 11 August 2020]. Love Middlesbrough. 2020. Things To Do | Where To Go In Middlesbrough | Love Middlesbrough. [online] Available at: <https://www.lovemiddlesbrough.com/things-to-do/> [Accessed 11 August 2020]. Southtees.nhs.uk. 2020. The James Cook University Hospital | South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. [online] Available at: <https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/hospitals/james-cook/> [Accessed 11 August 2020]. Live, T., 2020. 100 Reasons To Love Middlesbrough. [online] TeessideLive. Available at: <https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/local-news/100-reasons-to-love-middlesbrough-3723938> [Accessed 11 August 2020]. Living, C. and Kingdom, U., 2020. Cost Of Living In Middlesbrough. [online] Numbeo.com. Available at: <https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Middlesbrough> [Accessed 11 August 2020]. University, T., 2020. Teesside University. [online] Tees.ac.uk. Available at: <https://www.tees.ac.uk/> [Accessed 11 August 2020]. Village, M., 2020. Middlesbrough Sports Village | Gym & Fitness Classes | Everyone Active. [online] Everyone Active. Available at: <https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/middlesbrough-sports-village/> [Accessed 11 August 2020]. Day Out With The Kids. 2020. Middlesbrough Institute Of Modern Art | Day Out With The Kids. [online] Available at: <https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/attractions/middlesbrough-institute-of-modern-art-32d06b76> [Accessed 11 August 2020].

  When you arrive in the UK, you will not be allowed to leave the place where you’re staying for the first 14 days you’re in the UK unless you’re arriving from an exempt country. An exemption was originally put in place, at the beginning of June, which meant registered health and care professionals did not have to self-isolate when travelling to England from overseas. Following the reopening of travel routes, and as more people begin to holiday abroad, the government has removed this exemption. You should self-isolate in one place for the full 14 days, where you can have food and other necessities delivered. You must self-isolate at the address you provided on the public health passenger locator form. This can include: your own home, staying with friends or family, a hotel or other temporary accommodation. You should not have visitors, including friends and family, unless they are providing emergency assistance. With this in mind, IMG’s can self-quarantine in shared accommodation and hotels providing they do not mix with others outside of the household. The people you’re staying with do not need to stay at home, unless they travelled with you. Can I leave the house for any reason? You cannot go out to work or school or visit public areas. You should not go shopping. If you require help buying groceries, other shopping or picking up medication, you should ask friends or relatives or order a delivery. A common question we have been asked ‘Can I leave to get my BRP?’. No, wait until your self-isolation period is over before leaving the house for such tasks. How to travel to the place where you are self-isolating When you arrive in the UK, go straight to the place you’re staying. Only use public transport if you have no other option. If you do use public transport, wear something that covers your nose and mouth and stay 2 metres apart from other people. If you have acquired your NHS position through an agency, enquire with them if they can organize pre-booking private travel arrangements for you. Can I change where I am self-isolating? You are not allowed to change the place where you are self-isolating except in very limited circumstances, including where: a legal obligation requires you to change address it is necessary for you to stay overnight at accommodation before travelling to the place where you will be self-isolating for the remainder of the 14 days there’s an emergency What If I can’t make my own arrangements to isolate? If you cannot safely self-isolate for 14 days, you should tell Border Force Officers when you pass through UK border controls. They will provide you with details of a booking service which you can use to obtain accommodation and self-isolate in at your own expense.   Finishing Isolating If you do not have any coronavirus symptoms after 14 days, you can stop self-isolating. You will then need to follow the same rules as people who live in the UK. At this point you will be able to pick up your BRP and any other documentation. Once you’ve finished your 14 day self isolation you can then attend your first day at your new job! References GOV.UK. 2020. Health And Care Workers To Self-Isolate On Return To England From High-Risk Countries. [online] Available at: <https://www.gov.uk/government/news/health-and-care-workers-to-self-isolate-on-return-to-england-from-high-risk-countries> [Accessed 11 August 2020]. GOV.UK. 2020. Coronavirus (COVID-19): How To Self-Isolate When You Travel To The UK. [online] Available at: <https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate-when-you-travel-to-the-uk/coronavirus-covid-19-how-to-self-isolate-when-you-travel-to-the-uk> [Accessed 12 August 2020].