ACCS Introduction

ACCS is a 3 year training programme that normally follows Foundation Year 2. It is the only core training programme for trainees wishing to enter higher specialty training in Emergency Medicine and is an alternative core training programme for trainees wishing to enter higher specialty training in General Internal Medicine (GIM), Acute Internal Medicine (AIM) or Anaesthetics. It will deliver all elements of the specialty specific core training curricula, with additional augmented outcomes i.e. competences beyond those areas covered by GIM and anaesthetics. The first two years are spent rotating through Emergency Medicine (EM), General Internal Medicine, Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine (ICM). The third year is spent providing training that will ensure the trainee meets the minimum requirements for entry into higher specialty training in their parent specialty (EM, GIM/AIM, Anaesthetics and also ICM). The components of training in ACCS are:

• 1 year emergency medicine + GIM(A) (usually 6 months each)
• 1 year anaesthesia + intensive care (minimum of 3 months in each)
• 1 further year within chosen parent speciality

Aims of ACCS

The aim of ACCS training is to produce multi-competent junior doctors able to recognise and manage the sick patient and who have the complementary specialty training required for higher specialist training in emergency medicine, acute medicine, anaesthesia and intensive care medicine.

Within the overall aim, each specialty has a specific objective for ACCS training:

• Acute Medicine: To produce a cohort of trainees with all the competences delivered in Core Medical Training (CMT), with augmented outcomes and more broadly based experience. For the purposes of this training programme trainees must obtain significant experience in the acute medical take during the 6 months of medicine as this defines the term GIM: Acute
• Emergency Medicine: To provide training that delivers the first two years of the CCT in Emergency Medicine in a pre-planned and structured manner
• Anaesthesia: To produce a cohort of trainees with more widely based experience than is available solely within the anaesthesia CCT programme and to allow those who want to obtain a joint CCT in anaesthesia and ICM to obtain the complementary specialties in a pre-planned and structured manner
• Intensive Care Medicine: To allow trainees who want to obtain a joint CCT in ICM to obtain the competences of the complementary specialties in a pre-planned and structured manner

During the ACCS programme, you must complete a portfolio of evidence in support your achievement of the curriculum. As well as work place assessments this should include a clinical log book, a record of educational, management, audit and clinical governance activities, relevant continuing professional development activities and a written record of your supervisors meetings and personal development plan. Details of these can be found across the relevant webpages.