Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS)

ACCS training is a broad-based training programme that equips doctors with the skills and capabilities required to recognise and undertake initial management of the acutely unwell patient. 

 

It is the only core training programme for doctors in training wishing to enter Higher Specialty Training in Emergency Medicine and is an alternative core training programme for doctors in training, wishing to enter Higher Specialty Training in Anaesthetics, and any of the specialties listed on the JRCPTB website.

 

The first two years are spent rotating through six month placements in

• Emergency Medicine

• Internal Medicine

• Anaesthetics

• Intensive Care Medicine

These placements are usually based within one or two trusts in Thames Valley.

 

The third and fourth years are spent in the doctor in training’s chosen parent specialty, undertaking training to meet the requirements for entry into Higher Specialty Training.

 

If you are currently training in ACCS, or are a doctor planning to apply for ACCS training, you will find further relevant information and resources on the national ACCS website.

 

The training programme in Thames Valley is supported by monthly regional training days. These rotate around different trusts in the region. These are usually a combination of talks and skills/simulation training, mapped to meet the ACCS curriculum requirements.

 

In addition, ACCS doctors undertaking their anaesthetic placement attend the RIACT (Readiness for the Initial Assessment of Competency Training) course. This aims to facilitate Anaesthetic and Acute Care Common Stem (ACCS) trainees attaining the initial assessment of competency (IAC) in anaesthesia. This day release course runs over 3 months and is available to new anaesthetic and ACCS core trainees within the School. 

​

For further information about the Thames Valley ACCS training programme, please contact Dr Caroline Walker, TPD.