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Internal Medicine Training (IMT)

How you will be supported

Internal Medicine Training (IMT) forms the first stages of specialty training. The programme trains doctors in physician specialities and prepares them to participate in acute and chronic medical problems in both outpatient and inpatient settings

The curriculum for IMT Stage 1 was approved by the General Medical Council (GMC) in December 2017 and it replaced Core Medical Training (CMT) from August 2019. Trainees must complete IMT and acquire the full MRCP(UK) Diploma in order to enter specialty training at ST4 from 2022. Some specialties (Group 2 specialties) will recruit trainees who have completed two years of IMT and the MRCP(UK).

IMT Stage 1 is a three year programme that prepares doctors to become a medical registrar, providing them with the skills needed to manage patients presenting with a wide range of general medical symptoms and conditions. Experience in intensive care medicine, geriatric medicine and outpatients will be mandated and trainees will receive simulation based education throughout the programme.

Holistic decisions on progress will be made for the fourteen high level capabilities in practice (CiPs) using the professional judgement of appropriately trained, expert assessors.

Find out more about this programme:

At University Hospitals Birmingham we have approximately 140 Stage 1 Internal Medicine doctors who are based across all four sites: Queen Elizabeth, Good Hope, Heartlands and Solihull hospitals.

We meet the requirements of the curriculum by offering the following:

  • Clinical Rotations - Doctors rotate through various medical specialties, including acute medicine, and the mandated intensive care medicine, and geriatric medicine.
  • Skills Development - Focusing on developing practical skills, clinical decision-making, and managing complex medical cases.
  • Simulation Training includes simulation exercises to enhance practical skills and confidence.
  • Zonal Core IMT - Teaching sessions linked to the requirements of the Curriculum and includes MRCP questions as part of the presentations delivered.
  • Practical Assessment of Clinical Examination Skills (PACES) - Frequent teaching sessions are held to prepare doctors for their MRCP (UK) (Member of the Royal College of Physicians) PACES examination in addition to the Zonal Core IMT teaching.
  • Access to Clinics - As part of the Internal Medicine training there is a requirement for doctors to undertake outpatient clinical work. These are available for those doctors that join the Trust on our Postgraduate Medical Education Moodle platform.

Internal Medicine Doctors are supported by having Royal College Physician (RCP) Tutors, Associated College Tutors (ACTs) along with Educational and Clinical Supervisors and Co-ordinators within the Postgraduate Medical Education Teams.

In addition to the requirements of the curriculum University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust also provide;

  • An enhanced induction for IMT1 trainees joining the programme.
  • Opportunities to present in our Zonal Core IMT Teaching for IMT1 and IMT2.
  • Opportunities to present quality improvement projects in our Zonal Core IMT Teaching for IMT1 and IMT2.
  • Resident doctor forums to discuss educational concerns on a regular basis.
  • Opportunities to complete the Palliative Care MCR by spending a day with the Palliative Care team.
  • Opportunities to access the pleural clinics
  • Peer to peer support for IMT1 trainees.
  • Face to face IRCP panels for IMT1, IMT2, and IMT3 trainees working at the Trust.

 

Local Faculty Groups

Local Faculty Groups (LFGs) are held three times a year, RCP Tutors meet with Educational and Clinical Supervisors to discuss such items quality management, programme updates from the Postgraduate School of Medicine NHSE meetings, clinical governance, e-portfolio queries and feedback on each trainee is provided.

Internal Medicine Stage 2 training replaces current General Internal Medicine (GIM) training from August 2022.

Further reading on Internal Medicine can be found by clicking the link below:

The JRCPTB Federation link below provides information about the Internal Medicine specialty – Stage 1 curriculum, Stage 2 curriculum, ARCP decision aids and forms and guidance.

In addition the MRCP UK examinations.

Other websites

Last reviewed: 09 May 2025