Taking Time Out of Programme (OOP)
The following are consider acceptable reasons to take time out of programme:
· OOPT: For clinically approved training. This is for prospectively approved clinical training, which is not part of the trainee’s specialty training programme
· OOPE: For other clinical experience. This would be for clinical experience which is not approved, but which may benefit the trainee (e.g. work abroad or for charities)
· OOPR: For a period of research
· OOPC: For a planned career break
General points about OOP are:
· A maximum of 3 years can be spent OOP (4 with special discretion)
· THINK AHEAD – OOP will take a lot of planning and organisation, and StRs should start thinking about OOP from their first year
· An application form needs to be completed for OOP to be prospectively approved by the STC and the Postgraduate Dean. These are available from Carol Grimshaw at the Deanery and should be submitted at least six months prior to the planned OOP
Research
All of the renal units in the programme will be able to offer some form of research, either clinical or basic science – the best thing to do is start talking to people in the units early. You can do research anywhere you like (from London or Cambridge to Miami or Brisbane) but it can take a lot of organising, especially if grant proposals need writing in order to fund you. The majority of StRs doing research will do so for 2 or 3 years and submit their work for a higher degree (MD or PhD). You should still try to attend renal training days during research, and to attend your ARCP. If overseas, the ARCP can be done as a paper exercise. You will need to have an OOPR Form filled in for the ARCP (available from the Deanery) and make sure you have your Research Supervisors’ report.
Counting research time towards training
Any clinical duties you do during your research (e.g. on-calls or clinics) may count towards your renal training. The calculations are complicated - for clarification contact Professor Steve Powis (Chair of Renal SAC) at Royal Free Hospital, or ask at your ARCP. You now must inform the JRCTPB prospectively (i.e. prior to or at the start of research) if you wish time from OOP to count towards your renal clinical training.
Working abroad
You are free to arrange experience in a renal unit overseas during your StR years. Usually this is taken as part of the three years OOP (i.e. as OOPE) and therefore would be time taken in addition to your in-scheme training here. This would not count towards your StR training (i.e. your CCT would be delayed).
Occasionally, it is possible to have training abroad count towards your StR training (i.e. as OOPT). In such circumstances, the overseas post would need to be prospectively approved (and by the Postgraduate Dean). Talk to your programme director or the faculty well in advance if you plan to do this
Returning to Training
HEE have issued a guide for trainees returning to practice (click here)