Forms & Policies

Information on independent reporting, ESAF and ARCP guidance can be found below: 

All ARCPs are carried out virtually, and an outcome is given by a panel of usually around three people.

You will receive an email in advance of your ARCP detailing the exact procedure to be followed, and which documents need to be completed. You should follow this very closely (please refer to the document above on the first section). 

It is essential that all supporting documentation is submitted on LEPT by the deadline.

In general, you will need to upload:

• ESAF

• ESSR

• ARCP Decision aid

• Workplace-based assessments

• MSF if required for that year

• Audit

• Logbook (For ST2s and above, evidence of independent reporting e.g. competency log)

Based on the documentation you provide, the ARCP panel will decide on an outcome prior to your ARCP meeting. You will be given the outcome at the meeting itself, and will be contacted if further discussion with regarding your outcome is required.

You should also send a completed copy of the RCPath ARCP Decision Aid appropriate for your stage of training to the panel. 

After your ARCP, you will be emailed and your outcome form will be uploaded on LEPT.

PM training is compulsory during the first two years of training, after which it is optional.

The arrangements for carrying out PMs vary across the region. Not all hospitals carry out many PMs.

In Birmingham, essentially all Coronial PMs take place at the Central Mortuary in the city centre. Trainees are not allowed to undertake training here at present. As a result, few PMs are available at the Birmingham hospitals.

If you are placed at one of these hospitals, you should make arrangements to visit a different hospital in the region (in either the North or East Rotation) which can allow you to perform PMs. You should discuss the arrangements for this with your own Educational Supervisor and with the Educational Supervisor of the hospital which you wish to visit. You may decide to spend a whole day at the host department (e.g. reporting routine specimens in the afternoon), or you may prefer to return to your base hospital after you have completed your PMs.

Gynaecological cytology training is compulsory during the first two years of training, after which it is optional.

Only New Cross Hospital report gynae cytology and trainees in ST1 and ST2 will be provided with 3 day course in gynae cytology held by New Cross reporting BMS and consultants to cover the required number of cases each year. This will be held usually in November and virtually by MS Teams.

The provision of molecular pathology services and the delivery of molecular pathology training are undergoing an overhaul nationally, and so the situation is likely to change in the future.

At present, West Midlands trainees undertake a dedicated attachment in molecular pathology during the ST2 pool. The college has also made it a requirement that ST1 trainees complete an online Introduction to Genomics course.

The centres in the West Midlands which provide molecular pathology services are:

• Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham

• University Hospital Coventry

Guidance from the RCPath on outcomes from molecular pathology attachments is available here.

Each month a teaching day is held for all trainees in the region. There is no set day or site, but most sessions are held virtually by MS Teams meeting.

The aim of the sessions is to prepare you for the FRCPath examinations, and to fulfil the objectives set out in the Histopathology curriculum. Teaching takes the form of presentations and slide seminars covering histology, cytology and autopsy pathology, as well as sessions covering general skills required of a pathologist.

The usual structure of the teaching days is:

• A morning specialist slide seminar, including 10 scanned slides to be reviewed in advance of the session;

• A mid-day general slide seminar, including slides to be reviewed on the day;

• An afternoon specialist slide seminar, including 10 scanned slides to be reviewed in advance of the session.

You are required to attend a minimum of 80% of teaching sessions in any given year.

HMRC has confirmed that trainees can claim tax relief for the cost of exams (i.e. Part I and Part II). Submit a P87 form to claim. Claims can be back-dated several years, and can also be made for GMC, MPS/MDU, Royal College and BMA membership fees.

Trainees are also eligible for NUS membership.