Allergy

Allergic diseases are those which are a consequence, in whole or part, of interaction of antigen (allergen) with inappropriately produced, specific IgE. Such diseases include asthma and rhinitis, eczema, food allergy, allergy to drugs such as anaesthetics and antibiotics, allergy to insect venoms, latex allergy and some forms of urticaria. When severe these reactions may result in anaphylactic shock. Consequently, allergy embraces a variety of medical and surgical specialities, including paediatrics and dietetics, and the training is unique and varied. Allergic diseases affect millions, and there is ample opportunity to provide tangible and effective help to sufferers, both through active intervention (drugs, immunotherapy) and allergen avoidance.

The training programme is based around a central core of general allergy clinics. This should provide experience of a wide range of problems within the realm of the Allergist, including food allergy, drug allergy and the management of anaphylaxis. The trainee will be taught how to manage an allergen immunotherapy clinic. Alongside this, there are attachments to dermatology (for training in eczema, urticaria and contact dermatitis), ENT (evaluation and management of the upper respiratory tract), respiratory medicine (asthma, extrinsic allergic alveolitis and occupational lung disease), paediatrics (milestones, infant food allergy and substitute formulas, infant rhinitis, eczema and asthma) and immunology (vasculitis, immunoglobulin deficiency). In addition, the trainee will spend time in a diagnostic laboratory, becoming acquainted with the indications, methods and limitations of relevant diagnostic tests such as RAST. Training is reinforced by regular assessment by educational supervisors and yearly formal assessment by the JRCPTB

Due to regular revisions, arising from changes in the training environment and the requirements of the PMETB, the JRCPTB are currently running various curricula for trainees in each specialty.  All relevant curricula are listed at the bottom of this page under Documents.  Use the filter option on the right-hand side, together with the guidance notes below,  to help you select the correct document.  In summary:

• If you are a run-through (Specialty Registrar [StR]) trainee, you will follow the curricula tagged as ST3+  

• If you are an ‘old style’ SpR, you are following the curricula tagged as SpR

• If you enrolled prior to 01/01/03, you will be following the original curricula which are no longer available for download, see note below

 
Competence Based Curricula and Assessment – StRs

PMETB has received the assessment system (blueprint and RITA/ARCP grid) for Allergy and this has been approved.  

The assessment blueprints show the possible methods that can be used to assess each of the competences in the curriculum. Trainees and trainers should refer to the blueprints for guidance on the appropriate assessment methods for each aspect of the curriculum, and so plan the training programme according to the criteria set by the RITA Decision Aid. It is not expected that all competences will be assessed by all methods, rather that there will be a sampling of competences within a variety of settings, both within formal and workplace-based assessment, from which overall competence acquisition has to be determined.

 Acute care common stem (Medicine) trainees will also follow the ACCS training manual.

Competence Based Curricula – SpR (for trainees enrolling after 1 Jan 2003)

Curricula (for trainees enrolling before 1 Jan 2003)