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Clinical Attachments as ALS Candidates
Introduction
The ALS Subcommittee has been asked to provide guidance on whether individuals undertaking
“clinical attachments” should be accepted as candidates on the ALS course.
The decision to accept all candidates, including clinical attachments, on the course
should be made by the Course Director and Medical Director to ensure a good mix of candidates
from a variety of backgrounds.
The ALS Subcommittee provides the following information to help in the decision-making process.
Guidance
“Clinical attachment” is a loose term. It is often applied to positions occupied by doctors from overseas
who wish to gain familiarity with UK hospital systems before applying for their first post in this country.
The majority of medical posts in the UK require candidates to be familiar with UK or similar hospital systems.
The Department of Health in 'Medical Training in the United Kingdom: A guide for international graduates'
(2000) states:
“All doctors wishing to work in any capacity in the NHS must be registered
with the General Medical Council (GMC).
In medicine there are two, main, types of registration – Limited (LR) and Full (FR).
Most doctors who have obtained their Primary Medical Qualification (medical degree)
from a country other than the UK or other Member State of the European Economic Area (EEA)
will be eligible only for Limited registration. There are exceptions for doctors who qualify
from certain Universities in Australia, New Zealand, Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa
and the West Indies. These graduates will be eligible for Full Registration
and advice should be sought from the GMC.
In order to be granted LR, doctors must demonstrate their linguistic and clinical abilities.
This is done by taking two tests - a test of linguistic ability such as
the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) test, and a clinical test known as
the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) Test. Doctors with overseas qualifications
recognised for Full Registration are required to take the IELTS or similar recognised test,
but do not need to undertake the PLAB test.
The National Health Service is an equal opportunities employer and both the Department of Health
and the NHS promote and implement equal opportunities policies. There is no place for discrimination
on grounds of age, sex, marital status, race, religion, creed, sexual orientation, colour or disability.”
Further information is available in the above Department of Health document, at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/01/46/91/04014691.pdf
The ALS regulations provide guidance applicable to all potential candidates:
- The ALS provider course is designed for healthcare professionals who would be expected
to apply the skills taught as part of their clinical duties, or to teach them on a regular basis.
Appropriate participants include doctors and nurses working in critical care areas
(e.g. A&E, CCU, ICU, HDU, operating theatres, medical admissions units)
or on the resuscitation / medical emergency team and paramedics. All candidates should hold
a current clinical appointment and professional healthcare qualification.
Doctors undertaking clinical attachments who wish to apply for hospital posts
where they might be expected to lead a resuscitation team are suitable candidates for the ALS course.
Medical students should be encouraged to complete an ILS course. Medical students in their final year of training
can be accepted as candidates on an ALS course if this is an established local arrangement.
All other healthcare providers may attend as observers but their presence must not detract
from the teaching provided to those participating fully in the course.
No guarantee is offered or implied in terms of skills teaching. Observers will receive the course manual.
If a certificate of attendance is required this will be issued by the Course Centre.
If applicants have had no previous experience with the style of the advanced resuscitation
undertaken in UK hospitals they might benefit from attending the ALS course as an observer
before enrolling formally on another course as a candidate.
Any individual participating as a candidate on an ALS course should be competent in CPR before attending the course.
Consider whether the ALS course is the most appropriate course for the needs of the candidate
who is undertaking a clinical attachment; in many cases the Immediate Life Support (ILS) course
may be more suitable. The ILS course provides training in advanced life support skills.
It covers basic life support (BLS), appropriate airway management and safe defibrillation (manual and/or AED).
It was developed in response to a demand from healthcare professionals who may have to act as first responders
and treat patients in cardiac arrest until the arrival of a cardiac arrest team. Its development has enabled
the ALS Subcommittee to target the ALS course more effectively at providers with a greater pre-existing level
of knowledge and experience.
April 2006
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© Resuscitation Council (UK) 2006
This page last updated: 31 March 2006
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